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Ordered by the Commission for ihe 



IX KECOON1TION OF THE 



THIRTY SECOND IOWA VOLUNTEERS* 



CARL ROHL-SMITH, SCULPTOR. 



STORY 



OF THE 



T U 1 1) T V 





ind Iowa 



INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 



Compiled and Published by 

joiin gcoTT. 



Nevada, Ia. 
1896. 



p>er^icATioH. 



TO THE MEMORY 

OF THOSE WHO FELL IN BATTLE 
AND BY THE WAYSIDE 

—IN THE— 
WAR FOR THE UNION. 



On the National Flag- of the Thirty Second Iowa 
Infantry now in the State Capitol, the folio wing- 
battles are inscribed: — 

CAPE GIRARDEAU, BAYOU METAIRE, 

FORT De RUSSEY, PLEASANT HILL, 

MARKSV1LLE, YELLOW BAYOU, 

LAKE CHICOT, TUPELO, OLD TOWN CREEK, 

NASHVILLE, BRENTWOOD HILLS, 

FORT BLAKELY. 



ITINERARY OF THE REGIMENT. 



The following record of the movements of the 
Regiment from January 1864 to the time of reaching 
Montgomery, Ala., at the close of the war, is made 
from memoranda kept by Wellington Russell of 
Company C. The aggregate distance is nearly seven 
thousand miles. 

Columbus, Ky. to Vicksburg, Miss, by boat, 665 
miles; marched to Meridian, Miss.. 200; miles marched 
to Vicksburg, 200 miles; by boat to Simmsport, La., 
317 miles; marched to Fort De Russey, 33 miles; by 
boat to Alexandria, 72 miles; marched to Cotile, 27 
miles; by boat to Grand Ecore, 95 miles, marched to 
Pleasant Hill and return, 70 miles; marched via Nat- 
chitoches, Alexandria and Simmsport to Morganza 
Bend, 188 miles; by boat to Vicksburg, 200 miles; by 
boat to Sunny Side, Ark., 130 miles; marched to Col- 
umbia, 20 miles; by boat to Memphis, 235 miles; by 
railway to Moscow, 40 miles; marched via La Grange. 
Pontotoc,Tupelo,and again by La Grange to Collierville, 
200 miles; by railway to Memphis, 25 miles; by rail- 
way to Holly Springs, 77 miles; marched to Memphis 
via Oxford, 100 miles; by boat via Cairo to Jefferson 
Barracks, Mo., 440 miles; by railway to Mineral Point, 
95 miles; marched to Merrimac River, 8 miles; by rail- 
way to Jefferson Barracks, 9 miles; marched to Frank- 



lin, 47 miles; to Jefferson City, 108 miles; to California, 
25 miles; to Lexington, 144 miles; to Harrison ville, 92 
miles; to Glasgow, 138 miles; to St. Louis via St, Charles, 
173 miles; by boat to Cairo, 200 miles; to Nashville, 215 
miles; marched to Pnlaski, 79 miles; Dec. 31, 1864, 
31 miles; to Clifton, 30 miles; by boat to Eastport, 80 
miles; to New Orleans, 1,410 miles; to Dauphin Island, 
247 miles; to Danley's Mills, 40 miles; matched to Fort 
Blakely, 24 miles; and to Montgomery, 130 miles. The 
average distance by the route traveled from 
Montgomery to the hom^s in Iowa is not much less 
than 2,000 miles; and adding the moderate estimate of 
something more than 1,000 miles for the average 
itinerary prior to 1864, the total is more than 10,000 
miles. 



LAST WORPS. 



Additional facts have come to the knowledge of 
the compiler too late for their proper place in the body 
of the History; among which may be noted the death 
of Cry us Wyatt, which occurred at Otisville, Iowa, 
July 2, 1865; also the death of Peter Cium, which oc- 
curred in Florence county, Tennessee in 1890. 

Hon. H. O. Pratt, present address is Mount Ver- 
non, Iowa. 

Sergeant Ovid Hare lives in Los Angeles, Cal. 
Mail directed to the comrades named below, and 
sent to their last known address, has been returned as 
unclaimed: 

Geo. L. Allen, Alt. Andrews, Samuel Andrews, 
H. S. Barr. G. W. Barnes, Eli Blickensderfer, G. M. 
Bolton, Moses Blunt, P. Byam, John J. Bradehaw, John 
H. Brooks, Isaac A. Bucher, W. F, Clark, A. P. Condit, 
H. P. Carpenter, W. C. Closson, E. R. Coombs, Wm. 
Courrier, J. S. Cross, I. B. Cummings, L. H. Chaffin, 
John Delvey, Winthrop Dyer, James L. Eakins, Lloyd 
Eberhart, Luther Ellis, Leander Farlow, James 
Gamble, H. R. Gilliland, James C. Gordon, J. N. Gron- 
dan, James Gibnxn, Calvin Hall, W. R. W. Hancock, 
W. S. Hansberry, Wm. C. Hickman, E. L. Hurlbut, Asa 
Joslyn. F. Johnson, J. L. Kerr, James T. Leech, James 
C. Louck, J. W. Landers, A. O. Lesh, J. N. W. Mahaf- 
fey, S. S. Martin, John C. Maupin, M. V. B. Maulsby, 



J. O. Moriarty, D. G. Miller, David J. Miller, Geo. G. 
Miller, Levi Miller, Alfred Me Henry, Isaac McHenry, 
Keuben McVey, Wm. Nelson, Nels L. Nelson, 
Wra. T. Prescott, Goo. N. Palmer, J. T. Payne, 
J. B. Patterson, John N. Richardson, B. G, Scott, Da- 
vid Sellers, Enne Smith, Robert Smith, Andrew Smith, 
W. M. Sefton. James Sonrinson, B. R Thomas, S. B. 
Wells, W. Webster, S. S. Wieland, J. F. Ward, 
Charles White, R. S. Williams, J. W. Yost, John 
Young. 

It may be of importance not only to those, and all 
other comrades whose address is not given in the rosters 
herein, but also to many others, that the present ad- 
dress of every surviving member of the Regiment 
should be known. If those who can supply unknown 
addresses will send them to the compiler it will help in 
the compilation of a more complete roster, which can 
be printed and sent to all members when giving notice 
of the date and place of each bi-enuial reunion. 

In like manner each comrade should furnish a 
statement of any change in his P. O. address, including 
street and number in cities in which delivery is made 
by carriers. 

The compiler will take pleasure in the keeping 
and making corrections from time to time of such a 
list of the comrades, from which he may be able to 
furnish information. Great care should be taken to 
write legibly names of persons ami places. 

Nevada, Iowa, July 12, 189G. 



PREFATORY. 



Almost from the date of muster-out, but espe- 
cially from and after the' first regimental re-union, 
there has been a growing sentiment in favor of the 
preparation of a truthful account of the service of 
the Thirty Second Regiment Iowa Volunteers. This 
has increased as time has passed, and the memories 
of comradeship have drawn closer and closer those 
with a common history. This thought has been 
greatly strengthened by the contemplation of 
wrongs done in the publication of untruthful state- 
ments made by parties interested, and especially by 
a certain flavor that has always made its presence 
felt when the Red River campaign was under discus- 
sion. It was in this mal-oclorous series of disastrous 
blunders that the Regiment made its brightest and 
most enduring fame. Yet such was the character of 
the operations, and such the inadequate results of the 
severe trials and heroic efforts of the rank and file of 
that army that in public estimation even these trials 
and efforts have never had due recognition. On the 
contrary even those who most honorably participated 
in desperate conflicts have been compelled to refer 
to them in words of semi-apology and explanation. 
During all this period the blood of gallant comrades 
cruelly sacrificed has cried from the ground in pro- 
test against the sCence of those who live to speak 



14 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

for them, and the living have murmured against the 
cruel wrong that so-called history has done to the 
dead and to themselves. 

This thought culminated at the seventh biennial 
reunion of the veterans who assembled at Fort 
Dodge in 1893. It was then and there agreed that 
further postponement of the story of the Regiment, 
in proper form, would be little less than a crime, and 
measures were taken authorizing such publication. 
A committee was appointed, and given full authority 
to proceed with the History, and to call for such re- 
cords and assistance as might be required. 

There had previously been spasmodic efforts in 
this direction, which at least served to keep up inter- 
est in the subject, but meantime many precious years 
were lost, and with them many of the witnesses who 
alone could testify to important and most interesting 
facts. But there had been published in newspapers, 
from time to time the contributions of Sergeant J. M. 
Boyd, the adventures of I. A. Packard and Sergeant 
Jewett in their escape from rebel prisons; and also 
the report of a committee of Congress, as well as the 
official documents of the War Department and re- 
ports and papers found in the captured rebel ar- 
chives, Many of these throw light on the subject, 
and from them the story of the Regiment might fair- 
ly well be gleaned by patient labor. Unfortunately 
those having time and strength for such a work have 
not been induced to undertake it, and the task has 
seemed to fall to the lot of hands that carry also the 
burden of years. To such hands the work is neces- 
sarily a task; a burden from the undertaking of 
which the compiler shrinks, and from which he dare 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 15 

not hope for more than patchwork and unsatisfactory 
results. Impelled by a sense of duty and cheered by 
the unvarying and uniform kindness and charity of 
his comrades, thus giving assurance that they will 
accept at his hands the effort and the will for the 
deed, the compiler enters very reluctantly and ner- 
vously upon this labor that has been too long delay- 
ed. 

He has been glad to avail himself of information 
from every reliable source, and has endeavored to 
cull approximate truth from widely varying, or even 
contradictory testimony. Of this character are 
many of the official reports and despatches, furnish- 
ed by officials of our own army and navy, as well as 
by the rebels. Mendacity and veracity, courage and 
cowardice, vain boasting and genuine modesty, were 
none of them monopolized by the members of either 
army, but each class had a share of them. To sift 
the truth from all that has been said is a serious la- 
bor, and may not have been in all cases successfully 
performed, but the effort to do so has been honestly 
made by the compiler, and he has had the valuable 
aid of reliable comrades. In many instances the 
statements herein made are fortified by well known 
facts that are but incidental to the story of this Reg- 
iment, and are omitted in detail for lack of time and 
space in this compilation. 

It is perhaps but justice to the historians as well 
as actors in the Red River campaign to remark that 
accuracy in military history has been oft times made 
to yield to the necessity for covering the blunders of 
commanders. It is much easier to deny mistakes and 
bad conduct than it is to explain them or apologize 



16 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

for them. For that reason, perhaps, when even such 
great generals as Grant and Sherman wrote the his- 
tory of the battle of Shiloh in their despatches and 
memoirs, the facts were not stated as they were 
known by ten thousand other witnesses. What won- 
der, then, that General Banks and Admiral Porter, 
each of whom may not unreasonably be supposed to 
have heard the political bee buzzing in his military 
bonnet, should have been conspicuously inexact in 
the statment of facts, and so correct and emphatic in 
various charges, each against the other? In like 
manner we are to accept the voluminous and boast- 
ful reports of Major General Dick Taylor, who op- 
posed them. Though a son of one of the most mod- 
est Presidents of the Republic, the hero of Buona 
Vista, his vain falsehoods as to what he alleged had 
been accomplished were only ecpialled by the unful- 
filled promises of what he would do when the oppor- 
tunity presented! 

It is in part from such material that the history 
of the Red River campaign is to be sifted; — a cam- 
paign for which no one was willing to avow the re- 
sponsibility; — a compaign that violated every rule of 
military strategy in its inception and conduct; — a 
campaign with no purpose that corresponded to its 
expenditure of life and property, and which in its 
general conduct and results was as disgraceful as it 
was disastrous to those who apparently expected to 
reap from it both fame and fortune. 

-X- -X- 

The Regiment is the Military Unit, as the Fam- 
ily is the Social Unit. 

The experience of each member of the family 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 17 

may be widely different from that of every other 
member, yet the aims, efforts, successes and failures 
of each one have much interest to all the other mem- 
bers, and often seriously affect their lives and for 
tunes. In like manner each member of a Regiment 
may have his military fortune made or wrecked by 
the conduct of his regimental comrades. Therefore 
the history of the Regiment, like the history of the 
family, is of much interest to each of its members; 
and so, also, is the history of each member of inter- 
est to those who are also members of the same fami- 
ly or regiment. 

Although the Thirty Second Regiment of Iowa 
Volunteers for a time was broken into detachments, 
and widely separated, its members never forgot their 
fealty to their Regimental organization. For more 
than a year the four companies. A. D, F, and G, un- 
der Major Eberhart. were not with the regimental 
colors. During a portion of that time the other com- 
panies were also separated. At one time companies 
B, E. and I. under command of Captain Miller, were 
in Columbus, Ky. ; while companies H and K, under 
Captain Benson, occupied the famous Number Ten, 
in the Mississippi River; and at the same lime Cap- 
tain Peebles, with Company C, mounted, was doing 
duty as cavalry Scouts with head quarters at Uuion 
City, Tennessee. During a part of this time Colonel 
Scott was in command of the Post of Columbus, Ken- 
tucky, and Lt. Colonel Mix was a member of a court- 
martial at Cairo. 

While these conditions existed, varied more or 
less in detail, during the year 1863, the service of 
each member of the Regiment was that of the de- 



18 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

tachment to which he belonged, unless, as some- 
times happened, he was detailed individually for 
some special service. Examples of such personal 
duty may be noted in the service of Chaplain Cad- 
wallader as superintendent of Contrabands; Lt. Childs 
as Officer of the Post; and Adjutant Aldredge as Ad- 
jutant of the Post; all these at Columbus, Kentucky. 

These incidents serve to embarrass the writing 1 
of the history of this Regiment as a military unit; for 
as a matter of fact during many months it was but 
an aggregate of several fractions, and in giving the 
story of the service of the members of the various 
detachments there can be, at this late date, but a 
fragmentary story, and told more as the story of a 
half- forgotten dream than as real history. During 
this fragmentary period there are few records ex- 
cept the morning reports of the companies. After 
the companies were again brought together, the six 
companies coming back to Vicksburg, from Sher- 
man's raid to Meridian, and the four companies 
reaching the same point from their long and arduous 
campaign in Arkansas, in the early months of 1864, 
the story of the Regiment as a Regiment is continu- 
ous. 



INTRODUCTORY 



Under the proclamation of the President of the 
United States bearing date July 2, 1862, calling for 
further enlistments for three years or during the 
war for the suppression of the great Rebellion, the 
Volunteers who constituted the Thirty Second Regi- 
ment Iowa Infantry were enrolled. The call of the 
President was for 300,000 men, and of these Iowa 
was asked to furnish five regiments of Infantry. Un- 
der date of July 9,1862, Governor Kirkwood announc- 
ed this call by proclamation, in which he said: — ■ 

"The preservation of the Union, the perpetuity 
of our Government, the honor of our State, demand 
that this requisition shall be promptly met. The 
harvest is upon us and we have feared a lack of force 
to secure it. But we must put our brave Iowa boys 
in the field, and meet new emergencies with new ex- 
ertions. Our old men and our boys unfit for war, 
our women, if need be, must gather the harvests 
while those able to bear arms go forth to aid their 
brave brethren in the field. The necessity is urgent. 
Our national existence is at stake. The more prompt- 
ly the needed troops are furnished the more speedi- 
ly will this unholy rebellion be crushed. Until then 
we must endure the hardships and privations of 
war. Men must now make as many have already 
made sacrifices in the cause of our country. 

The enemy by conscription have forced into the 
field all who can bear arms. We have as yet relied 
upon voluntary action, but if need be the same ener- 
gies must be exerted to preserve our government 



20 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

that traitors are using- to destroy it. I have assign- 
ed one regiment to each 1, 2, 3, and 4 Congressional 
Districts, and one regiment to 5 and 6 together." 

Under this vigorous call the Adjutant General of 
Iowa was able on August 25th to designate Camp 
Franklin, near Dubuque, as the rendezvous of the 
Thirty Second Regiment, to be composed of com- 
panies in the 6th Congressional District, east of the 
Des Moines River. 

Within the bounds of this territory eleven com- 
panies were enrolled. As an inducement to enlistment 
in the more sparsely settled localities it had been 
promised that as far as practicable the Volunteers 
should be assigned together. Under this proposi- 
tion it was thought best to assign one of the two 
companies from Blackhawk county to the Thirty 
First Regiment. By this arrangement the other ten 
companies formed the Thirty Second Regiment, and 
were placed as follows: — 

Company "A," Lewis H. Cutler, Captain, was 
enrolled in the counties of Hardin, Hamilton, Wright 
and Kossuth; was ordered into quarters by the Gov- 
ernor in July 1862. Total rank and file 100 men. 

Company "B," Amos B. Miller, Captain, was en- 
rolled in Cerro Gordo, Worth, Hancock, Hamilton, 
and Winnebago counties, and was ordered into quar- 
ters August 25, 1862. Total rank and file 85 men. 

Company "C," Herbert F. Peebles, Captain, was 
enrolled in the county of Blackhawk. Date of being 
ordered into quarters not given in Adjutant Gener- 
al's report. Total rank and file 92 men. 

Company "D," Theodore De Tar, Captain, was 
enrolled in the county of Boone, and was ordered in- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 21 

to quarters August 11, 1862, Total rank and file 99 
men. 

Company "E," John R. Jones, Captain, was en- 
rolled in the county of Butler during July and Au- 
gust 1862. Total rank and file, 96 men. 

Company "F," Joseph Edgington, Captain, was 
enrolled in Hardin county, the enlistments being 
mostly from August 10 to 15, but reported as order- 
ed into quarters July 3, 1S62, as in the case of Com- 
"A," whose enlistments were also mostly about Au- 
gust 10 to 16. Total rank and file 94 men. 

Company "G," Charles A. L. Roszell. Captain, 
was enrolled in the counties of Butler and Floyd, 
going into quarters mostly from August 5 to 25, 1862. 
Total rank and file 83 men. 

Company "H," James B. Reeve, Captain, was 
enrolled in Franklin county, but had members from 
adjacent parts of Butler and Hardin, dates of going 
into quarters ranging mostly about August 14, 1862. 
Total rank and file 84 men. 

Company "I." Jonathan Hutchinson, Captain, 
was enrolled in Webster county, but several of the 
members were from Humboldt county, the dates 
ranging from August 12 to 22. 1862. Total rank and 
file 83 men. 

Company "K," Joseph Cadwalader, Captain, was 
enrolled in Story and Marshall counties, most of the 
dates ranging from August 10, to August 22, 1862. 
Total rank and file, 96 men. 

The line officers were chosen by members of the 
several companies, and these as well as the warrant 
officers were usually apportioned by agreement, more 
or less equitably, among the men from different 



22 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

counties or neighborhoods. Some of these offices 
were bestowed because of activity in securing enlist- 
ments, and others because of personal qualifications, 
including military experience. In the main the se- 
lections were based upon absolute merit, and when 
the final mustering took place, October 6, and 7,1862, 
at Camp Franklin, by Capt. Geo. S. Pierce, U. S. A., 
there was the customary hopefulness and enthusiasm 
of the Iowa Volunteer, entering upon the discharge 
of patriotic duty. 

The Regiment was organized by the appoint- 
ment of John Scott, of Story county as Colonel; Ed- 
ward H. Mix, of Butler county, as Lieutenant Colon- 
el; and Gustavus A. Eberhart, of Blackhawk county, 
as Major; and the commission Staff were Charles Ald- 
rich, of Hamilton county, Adjutant; Thomas C. Mc- 
Call, of Story county, Quarter Master; Stephen B. 
Olney, of Ft. Dodge, Surgeon; Jesse Wasson, of La 
Porte City, and Win. B. Waters, of Marshalltown, 
Assistant Surgeons; and Lorenzo S. Coffin, of Web- 
ster county, Chaplain. Charles H. Huntley, of Com- 
pany B. was made Sergeant Major; Allen T. Birchard, 
of Company I, became Quarter Master Sergeant, and 
Jason R. Millard, of Waterloo, Commissary Ser- 
geant. ] 

For a roster comprising the military history of 
each of the 1000 men more or less composing the 
Regiment, including recruits, the reader will consult 



'Note: In the organization of a Regiment there is an 
officer of much importance who bears neither Commission 
nor Warrant, yet who does much towards the comfort of the 
men and efficiency in the service, or by a selfish course gives 
results in other and less beneficial directions. This officer 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 23 

the Appendix, and personal notes herein. 

The body of this work will be devoted to the 
history of the Regiment as a military organization. 
Every member of the Regiment has a deep interest 
in the manner in which this shall be done, and es- 
pecially in the success which should attend an honest 
effort to truthfully give, without fear or favor, the 
exact facts, in correction of the story so often 
wrongly told for purposes that will not bear investi- 
gation. 

In the perusal of these pages the reader, wheth- 
er an actor on the stage, a spectator of the drama, or 
a patient student of history, is requested to bear in 
mind the conflicting details in testimony which so 
often arise from the different points of view of the 
witnesses. Such differences do not indicate a disre- 
gard for truth, but only show the fallibility of mem- 
ory, or how the sight may be warped by interest or 
prejudice. Time and patient investigation will fin- 
ally reach the bottom of the mine, and truth will 
stand revealed. This book it is hoped will serve a 
purpose that will excuse, perhaps justify, its publi- 
cation. 



is the Sutler. Thomas B. Knapp, of Iowa Falls, filled this 
position. He had been tendered and had accepted the posi- 
tion of Major. Owing to the supposed claims of locality the 
Governor felt himself not able to carry out the program 
that had been arranged. This course greatly embarrassed 
Mr. Knapp. He determined to accompany the Regiment as 
an enlisted man if no more important duty could be assign- 
ed him, and was finally prevailed upon to act as regimental 
Sutler. It is due to him to say that he deserved and re- 
ceived the confidence and respect of every member of the 
regiment. 



INTRODUCTION 

BY GOV. CARPENTER. 



[These introductory remarks were furnished by 
Hon. C. C. Carpenter at the special request of the 
Historian .Their appearance in this volume needs no 
apology or explanation. Himself a pioneer among 
the men of this Regiment, a volunteer in the service. 
no man better understands the facts of which he 
writes.] 

The fall of 1862 was the darkest period of the 
Civil War. The campaign of McClellan on the Vir- 
ginia Peninsula, in front of Richmond, had resulted 
in several drawn battles, and in the final withdrawal 
of the army of the Potomac to the vicinity of Wash- 
ington, from an almost beseiged situation at Harri- 
son's landing. The army under Grant, in the Missi- 
ssippi Valley, whilst holding its own, had been em- 
ployed in comparatively fruitless skirmishes, and had 
fought two severe battles — at Cornith and Iuka — to 
hold the territory which had been acquired by the 
brilliant campaign against Fort Donelson, and on 
the bloody field at Shiloh. The Army of the Cum- 
berland, under Buell,had engaged in a foot race with 
the rebel Army under Bragg — each marching on par- 
ellel roads — the rebels intent on reaching the Ohio 
River and assailing Buells' communications by cap- 
turing Louisville and his Depots of supply; whilst 
the Union Army was putting forth its best efforts 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 25 

solely to foil this attempt of its adversary. The fall 
elections in the north, as interpreted by those not in 
sympathy with the war measures of the government, 
had been a vote of want of confidence in the policy 
of the Administration. In the face of all these dis- 
couragements the President called for additional 
forces. 

The meager knowledge of what was meant when 
the first regiments took the field was no longer an 
element to be counted upon in securing enlistments. 
The first flush of excitement after the fall of Sumter 
had been succeeded by the sober second thought. 
The long lists of killed and wounded; the pathetic 
reports from the hospitals; the accounts of suffering 
on the march and in the storms of the natural ele- 
ments, and the fiercer storms of the battle, had chill- 
ed the hot blood of the earlier months of the war. 
The men who made up the new Regiments were not 
ignorant of the reception which awaited them at the 
front. Among these regiments was the Thirty Sec- 
ond Iowa Infantry. 

It is doubtless true that the men who composed 
this Regiment had occasion to feel the seriousness of 
the chances of war in equal measure to those of any 
Regiment which entered the service from Iowa. 
They were mostly men of mature years and ripe 
judgment. Many of them were the heads of young 
families. A large proportion of them were men who 
had left the states farther east and sought a home on 
the frontier in accordance with a cherished idea of 
securing an independence. The war found them up- 
on the threshold of their new enterprises; with anew- 
ly purchased farm, or a newly established business, 



26 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

upon which perhaps were encumbrances involving 
their interest and their honor. Their enlistment also 
involved leaving families and friends in a new coun- 
try with half completed homes and meager improve- 
ments. And yet, rising above all these considera- 
tions, which bound them to their homes, the young 
husband left his young wife, sons left their parents, 
brothers left sisters, and lovers left their loved ones, 
to go out and take the chances and endure the hard- 
ships of the soldier. There were localities within 
the territory from which the Thirty Second Regi- 
ment was raised where hardly an able bodied man re- 
mained at home. The women and children toiled in 
the field, husked the corn, cared for the stock and 
plowed the soil, until the men who survived the vi- 
cissitudes of the camp and battle-field returned to 
the fireside which had been kept aglow by a devot- 
ed wife, mother, or sister. The man who enlisted 
under the circumstances existing when the Thirty 
Second Infantry was called into the field carried a 
thinking bayonet. They left homes of intelligence 
stimulated solely by a moral purpose. The Bible lay 
on the center-table, books, magazines, and newspapers, 
well handled and well read, indicated the character and 
principles of these households. It was not a spirit of 
adventure that influenced the young men in these 
homes to bear the realities of the camp and the bat- 
tle. It was a sense of duty and patriotic attachment 
to principle. It was with such men, and from such 
homes the ranks of the Thirty Second Iowa Infantry 
were filled. 

The writer had a conversation with a young sol- 
dier, late in October 1862, who in his boyhood had 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 27 

been one of his pupils in a country school. Although 
he was not a Thirty Second Iowa man, yet he was 
typical of the soldiers, of that Regiment. It was a 
few days after the battle of Cornith when we met 
for the first time in many years. The meeting and 
the greeting can better be imagined than told. Then 
for some hours there was a running tire of conver- 
sation. "Are yon married?" the writer inquired. 
"Yes, have been married five years and have two 
children." "It must have been a pretty severe trial 
for you to leave home and become a soldier." "Trial," 
said he, "is no name for it; it was the next thing to 
death itself.*' Then he went on to say : "When the 
war began I said to my wife. T believe I ought to en- 
list. Some people say that we who voted for Lin- 
coln are responsible for the war, and if that is true I 
ought to accept my share of the responsibility.' But 
she replied; 'You have a wife and two helpless child- 
ren to care for, and very little to leave them if you 
should not return. It is not necessary for you to go 
when there are so many others, not encumbered as 
you are, who are ready to go.' I argued with her 
that if anything should befall me the government 
would take of care her; but she was incorrigible, and 
I dropped the subject. Months passed. The battle 
of Bull Run had been fought; other battles had tak- 
en place, and it was evident that the war was not to 
be a holiday. The call for re-enforcements was not 
responded to with the original alacrity. New Regi 
ments were hard to raise. Finally I broached the 
subject again. I found she had been thinking about 
it. and she said, the tears filling her eyes and her ac- 
cent thick with emotion: 'Well this is evidently going 



28 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

to be a long war; and I have made up my mind that 
the women as well as the men must make great sac- 
rifices; and as you are young and strong and healthy 
I dont know but it is your duty to enlist.' That settled 
the question and here I am." 

I have told this story to illustrate the mental 
evolution which antedated the enlistment of thou- 
sands and thousands of soldiers when struggling 
with the question of their personal duty. This was 
an ideal soldier, from an ideal American home, 
fighting for an ideal country. Who will question 
that this story does not repeat the history, antece- 
dent to entering the service, of a large majority of 
the members of the Thirty Second Iowa Infantry? If 
the conversation was nor. with wife, it was with f ath - 
er and mother, or with sister or with loved one. In 
how many of these frontier and half finished homes, 
where there were two sons with old and helpless 
parents, the question was settled that at least one of 
them should go into the service; and then with patri- 
otic unselfishness the subject was canvassed as to 
which son was best equipped in health, endurance 
and character to meet the vicissitudes of the camp. 
the march and the battle. 

The writer well remembers reading in a news- 
paper which reached him in the south, at the time 
the question of raising the Thirty Second Iowa Infan- 
try, was being agitated, the synopsis of an address 
by Col. Scott, urging enlistments. This newspaper 
was the Hamilton Freeman, where Editor, Charles 
Aldrich, subsequently, locked up his printing office 
and went into the Regiment as its adjutant. Col. 
Scott had seen service, not only in the Mexican war 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 29 

but in the Third Iowa Infantry, and knew that war 
was a serious business. But he in no manner at- 
tempted to soften its terrors. He did not promise 
the men who should enlist immunity from danger, 
or from hardship, or from deprivation, He did not 
hold out to them a prospect of fame. He did not 
minify the sacrifices of leaving home. The only 
promises w r hich he made them were, that they would 
have long marches; that they would swelter beneath 
southern suns; that they would sometimes have scant 
food; that they would often thirst for a draught of cold 
water ;that they would be called to stand on picket; and 
to lie in trenches confronting the enemy; and that the 
only thing of which they would never lack a full sup- 
ply would be hard and dangerous service. But notwith- 
standing all this the Regiment was filled because he 
appealed to men who were ready to go where duty 
called. 

The writer knew many of the soldiers who con- 
stituted the rank and file of this splendid Regiment; 
and he will be excused for briefly recalling some of 
the characteristics of a few, who are among the fall- 
en, and whose names are an inspiring memory to 
their comrades who still survive. 

It is doubtful if there was in the service a more 
lion hearted man than Major Johnathan Hutchison. 
It is tradition at his old home, that when the patriot- 
ic citizens assembled to consider the subject of rais- 
ing a company for this Regiment in Fort Dodge and 
vicinity, his speech when called out was the most ef- 
fective that was made; briefly and simply he said: 
"Uncle Sam has got a big job on hand and I am go- 
ing to help him through with it." The men who en- 



30 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

listed at Port Dodge and vicinity were worthy fol- 
lowers of their Captain. The story is told of Alex- 
ander Doud, that when at New Madrid, whilst he 
was executing 1 an order of the Brigade commander 
(not one of the Thirty Second Iowa Infantry ) to 
spike the cannon and throw them into the Mississ- 
ippi river to prevent them from falling into the 
hands of Marmaduke, who was approaching with a 
superior force, he believing that the detachment at 
New Madrid could defend their position, declared, as 
he was driving home a spike: "That this thing would 
be thrown up to the young Douds at Dayton a hund- 
red years from that time.'' 

One of the truest men the writer ever knew as a 
citizen and a professional man, was Dr. Stephen B. 
Olney, the surgeon of the Regiment. What he was 
in the military service is sufficiently attested by the 
tenderness with which his name is mentioned by 
every surviving soldier of the Regiment. 

One among the noble men who fell at Pleasant 
Hill was Captain Amos B. Miller. He was a gentle- 
man in every fiber of his nature; and a man of the 
most generous and patriotic impulses. He became a 
soldier because he believed it was a duty he ovvvd to 
his country. The spirit of self-sacrifice which 
prompted him to enter the service, notwithstanding 
his contemplative habit of mind, his love of books 
and of civil employment, led him to meet all the re- 
quirements of the service with resolute will and un- 
faltering fidelity, crowning all in death on the field 
of battle. 

Lieutenant and Adjutant-Huntley, a young man 
with bright promise of Usefulness and distinction, 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 31 

who entered the service by the side of Captain Mil- 
ler, died upon the same battle-field. These were types 
of the entire Regiment and have been mentioned here 
because they were known to the writer and illustrate 
the character of the men who constituted the Thirty 
Second Iowa Infantry. The publication of a history 
of the Thirty Second Iowa Infantry is a most praise- 
worthy enterprise of its surviving comrades. Those 
who have a personal interest in this history will be 
able to verify its accuracy and impartiality. It is 
scarcely necessary to say, that the committee ap- 
pointed to supervise this publication have a difficult 
task to perform. Much of the matter aside from the 
official records, which will make up this history, must 
be secured from the memory of living witnesses 
thirty vears after the events which they are expect- 
ed to recall have transpired. At all the re-unions of 
the surviving soldiers of the rebellion, since Appo- 
mattox, Regiments, and other initial organizations, 
have been encouraged to compile their histories and 
live over again in the printed page the events of 
their service. The future historian of the Great Re- 
bellion, who goes outside of the cold, and often mea- 
ger, official records, will find his richest veins of 
truth in the hitherto un worked mines of Regimental 
history. What member of the Thirty Second Iowa 
Infantry is willing that the future history of their 
struggle in the battle of Pleasant Hill shall rest 
solely upon the meager reports of Brigade and Divi- 
sion Commanders who were neither with them, nor 
near them in that supremest hour of their heroic 
courage and self-renunciation? The history of this 
noble Regiment will not only be read with interest 



32 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

by its survivors; nor alone by the historian delving* 
for facts with which to enrich his pages; nor by the 
descendants of the men who constituted the Regi- 
ment; but it will be read by all the citizens through- 
out this section of the state which was honored in 
making such a contribution as the Thirty Second 
Iowa Infantry to the cause of Free Government. 



I 





o 





CHAPTER I, 

Camp Franklin. 



For convenience in organizing the Iowa Regi- 
ments several camps had been established, the ac- 
commodations consisting of temporary barracks, 
built of common lumber, having tiers of bunks, or 
boxes in which men could arrange their blankets and 
straw for sleeping, but with few comforts and no 
conveniences for a life in camp. They were at best 
only possible habitations for pleasant weather. One 
of these camps was situated on the west bank of the 
Mississippi River, above Dubuque, on the open com- 
mons and out-lots near the city, and was named 
Camp Franklin. The Governor ordered the various 
companies of the Thirty Second Regiment to this 
camp, where, with those of the Twenty Seventh and 
Thirty Eighth Regiments they remained for several 
weeks awaiting regular muster into the service of 
the United States. 



34 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

The camp was under the control of the State 
authorities, and the supplies were furnished by the 
State; to be charged up to the Government. The 
business was conducted fairly well. Subsistence 
supplier were of good quality and abundant in quan- 
tity. The Field, Staff, and Line officers were charg- 
ed with their several duties, and under the supervi- 
sion of Major Broadtbeck as drill master the com- 
panies and regiments soon assumed the military air, 
and the men began to put off the civilian and settle 
down to the school of the soldier. 

During this period of waiting and preparation a 
malignant type of measles appeared. The Pall rains 
and early snows came on. These found their way 
through the open barracks, and several deaths from 
the epidemic occurred. Exposure also caused per- 
mament injury to the health of some who survived 
the attack of measles, but who in consequence were 
discharged from the service. Thus even in the camp 
for muster the casualties of army life were not un- 
known. 

One of the pleasant incidents at Camp Franklin 
was the presentation of a flag by the patriotic Ladies 
of Waterloo. This beautiful banner, the work of 
their fair hands, became the flag of the Regiment, 
and was borne aloft in storm of shot and shell, as the 
brave boys promised, stained with their blood but 
never with dishonor. 

The tedium of this camp was relieved by not in- 
frequent visits of friends and relatives, who "drop- 
ped in to see how the boys were getting along." 
The occasional presence of wives, mothers, daughters, 
and sweethearts, brought joy to some, envy to 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 35 

others, and pleasure to many. The daily duties were 
but as play to the strong men and frisky boys who 
there took their first and easy lessons in the life of 
the soldier. But the short weeks thus spent served 
a valuable purpose in enabling officers and men to 
become acquainted, to estimate themselves and each 
other by comparison, and to form attachments and 
dislikes that can never be effaced or forgotten. Life 
in camp, even in a Camp of Instruction, dispels 
many illusions. Those who have been neighbors for 
years, and who think themselves acquainted with 
each other, may well go together on an outing for 
the purpose of proving or disproving the value of all 
former estimates. There is nothing so valuable for 
such a purpose. The gold and the glitter, the pinch- 
beck and the dross, here are so clearly discerned as 
never before. 



CHAPTER II. 



Off For Dixie. 



Although the Regiment was formally mustered 
into the service on the sixth day of October, 1862, it 
was not till the middle of November that Camp 
Franklin was vacated. Sunday, the 16th, cold, rain- 
ing, a gloomy day, the transfer to the steamers Jim 
Means and Bill Henderson was made. By reason of 
the low stage of water in the Mississippi River it be- 
came necessary to decrease the draught of the boats 
by transferring a large number of men and much of 



36 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

the stores to barges in tow. Officers and men ac- 
cepted with cheerfulness a situation that could not 
be declined, and among boxes bales and barrels, 
with the sky for a covering, five days and chilly 
nights passed before the camp at Benton Barracks, 
near St. Louis, was reached, on the morning of Nov- 
ember 22nd. 

Maj. Gen. S. R. Curtis was in command of the 
Department of Missouri, comprising a large territory 
west of the Mississippi, with head-quarters at St. 
Louis. It was a compliment that was hardly appre- 
ciated, and certainly not relished by the rank and file, 
when Gen. Curtis selected the Thirty Second Iowa to 
occupy the south eastern portion of Missouri, six 
companies to be stationed at New Madrid, and four at 
Cape Girardeau. Major Eberhart, with A, D, F, and 
G, took charge of the latter Post, while Colonel 
Scott with the other six companies established regi- 
mental Head Quarters at New Madrid. This arrange- 
ment was understood at the time as being for only a 
short period, but was destined to last until March, 
1864 It was an experience that tested the loyalty of 
its members to the regimental unit of organization; 
and it is a matter of just pride that the men of both, 
as well as all subsequent detachments, endured the 
test, and came out with a fealty to their divided as 
well as their united services for the country that is 
well worthy of mention. All members of the Thirty 
Second Iowa Volunteers regard the record made by 
each individual member, as a part of one common 
heritage in which each has a property right, and of 
which each is disposed to claim a share. 

This disposition of the Regiment was of impor- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 37 

tance to the- service, in guarding a line across which 
contraband traffic was liable to be carried on. On 
the west and to the south-west of this line the people 
were intensely disloyal and vindictive. The region 
was populated in the main by a class of "poor whites," 
emigrants from the states south of the Ohio River, 
and their descendants, who had sought land and cli- 
mate not for their intrinsic value, but for cheapness. 
Among them was much ignorance and equally great 
prejudice and criminality, It was the natural spawn- 
ing ground of the guerilla, the bush-whackers, the as- 
sassin, whose amusements (not crimes) were murder 
and illicit traffic. 

On the other side of this line were the rebel sym- 
pathizers of that part of Illinois known as "Egypt," 
where many a loyal soldier and citizen was ambush- 
ed, among whose inhabitants a traitor found aid and 
comfort for the asking. 

Sagacity, vigilance, integrity, were the import- 
ant qualiticasions for the duties in such a situation. 
And while many of our restless and ambitious men 
chafed under the restraint and comparative inactivi- 
ty of this species of soldier life, and pined for the 
arduous march, the laborious and dangerous scout, 
the storming of breastworks, the bayonet charge on 
belching batteries, the hand to hand conflict in deadly 
battle, worried over the dread that they would never 
see even one great meeting of the armies, it is safe 
to say that of ten thereafter these men would have 
gladly returned to these routine duties, and left the 
chance to others to earn the fame that belongs to 
more active forms of war. Later experiences were 



28 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

more exciting than these, but possibly, on the whole, 
not more satisfactory. 

Note. The reason for the division of the Regiment, 
and the temper of General Curtis over the subsequent 
evacuation of New Madrid, when ordered by Gener- 
al Davies, may be best understood by referring to a 
letter of General Curtis to General Halleck. From 
that letter it appears that New Madrid had already 
been a bone of contention between the Commanders 
of the Departments on opposite sides of the River. 
Therefore, when Gen. Davies assumed to ogam take 
troops from New Madrid, without his permission, as 
Gen. Curtis alleged, and with Curtis' permission, as 
General Davies alleged, the indignant Curtis was 
ready to vent his anger on the Thirty Second Iowa, 
or Colonel Scott, or any other innocent party. These 
facts should be borne in mind when the reader reach 
es the story of the evacuation of New Madrid for the 
purpose of reinforcing Ft. Pillow, in another De- 
partment, which must be told in the story of the six 
companies. 

The following Official Orders explain themselves: 

Head Quarters St. Louis District of Mo. 
Saint Louis Nov. 23, 1862. 
Special Order ) 
No. 6. \ 

Col. Scott, 32nd Iowa Vol. Infantry, will 
send in charge of a field Officer of the regiment four 
(4) companies of his command to Cape Girardeau. 
Missouri, where they will take station and remain 
until further orders. 

Col. Seott with the other six (6) companies will 
proceed to New Madrid, Missouri, where he will es- 
tablish his Regimental Head Quarters and take sta- 
tion, and remain until further orders - 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 39 

The Quarter Masters department will furnish 
the necessary transportation both for conveying' the 
bag-gage and. equipage from Benton Barracks and the 
Regiment to its destination. 

By order of Brigadier General E. A, Carr. 
James A. Greason, 

Actg. Assistant Adjutant General. 

Headquarters 32nd Iowa Infantry, 
Benton Barracks, Mo. , Nov. 25, 1862. 
Major G. A. Eberhart. 
32nd Iowa Vol. 

Sir: You will proceed immediately to 
Cape Girardeau, Missouri, with companies A. D. F. 
and G. of this regiment and take command of that 
Post until further orders. 

By command of Col. John Scott. 
Chas. Aldrich Adjutant. 



Letter of Curtis to Halleck, in review of circum- 
stances that called for this disposition of the Thirty 
Second Iowa. 

Hd. Qrs. Dept. of Missouri, 

St. Louis, Nov. 23, 1862. 
Col. J. C. Kelton, A. A. G. etc. 

On 25th of Oct.Gen.Grant telegraphed as follows: 

li Maj. Hen. Curtis: New Madrid being out of my 
department, I would like to withdraw the detach- 
ments of troops I have there as soon as they can be 
relieved. Will you send troops to relieve them/' 

I replied same day. 

'•Dispatch rec'd. — Can't spare troops from 
New Madrid at present." 

Gen. Grant same day says: 

"The troops at New Madrid are detachments 
from other troops of my command. If they cannot 
remain subject to my orders I must remove them." 

On the 21st Nov., before I had opportunity to re- 
lieve the troops. Brig. Gen. Davies telegraphed: 

'•In accordance with orders from Maj. Gen. 
Grant the troops from New Madrid are being re- 



40 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

moved to Island No. 10. If you dntend sending 
troops to New Madrid the guns will be left. If not, 
they shall be removed." 

On the 22nd. I answered as follows: 
"Troops and forts in my department are under 
my command; not Gen. Grant's." 

On 22nd, in reply Gen. Davies telegraphs: 
"The troops belonging to this command which 
were at New Madrid have been ordered away. No- 
tice was given you, that you might replace them if 
you so thought necessary, and no answer was receiv- 
ed until this morning. Gen. Grant did not think it 
safe to leave the guns there without anybody to guard 
them, so ordered a boat to take them to Island No. 10." 
I have stopped the Thirty Second Iowa to go 
and supply this vacuum, and briefly report the facts 
to Head Quarters, with a request that at least Gen. 
Grant should be ordered to return the guns. Please 
report to Gen. Grant. 

Sam'l. R. Curtis. 

Major General. 



CHAPTER III. 
At Cape Girardeau. 



The story of the four companies, A, D, F and G r 
under Major Eberhart. may be best told in the lan- 
guage of Sergeant J, M. Boyd, of F, from whose 
diary and narrative the facts are gleaned. Members 
of the Regiment will not complain of space devoted 
to comparatively unimportant details, and personal 
mention. These may not properly be styled "His- 
tory," but the life of the soldier, in camp and field, is 
always of interest to his comrades, and to the families 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 41 

of those who were participants in the same cam- 
paigns. 

Sergeant Boyd says: 

Sunday, the 23rd, the four Co's. got marching 
orders, went back again Tuesday the 25th, got orders 
again, went to the Levee, but only Co. A could be 
crowded on the boat. The other three companies 
tramped about and waited until night and then went 
on board another boat; lay all night among the coal 
piles on the boiler deck, and next morning were or- 
dered back to Camp Benton. On the morning of the 
27th marching orders came again; got into line, 
marched part way to Levee, then halted, marched 
part way back, then marched and countermarched 
until finally we reached the levee after dark and were 
stored away on the boiler deck. The steam was up, 
the boat shot out into the river and we were soon en- 
joying a good sleep among the coal piles, boxes and 
other goods and chattels of Uncle Sam, notwithstand- 
ing the stamping and kicking of the mules and horses 
which were closely jammed into intervening 
spaces. 

Pour o'clock P. M. of the 28th found the four 
companies at Cape Girardeau, inarching to Camp 
Scott in a snow storm; scraped away the snow, pitch- 
ed Fremont tents and soon turned in for the night. 
Sleep had not closed our eyes ere the cry rang through 
the camp. "Up! up! boys! here they come! here they 
are!" Soon the boys were out and looking to the 
west, the sky was ablaze with the lire of musketry. 
Every man seized his musket but not a man had a 
cartridge. Lieut. Campbell seized an old ax, broke 
open a cartridge box and distributed the cartridges. 
Guns we:'; 1 soon loaded and all in line for a light, but 
no enemy appeared. All was again quiet on the pick- 
et line, and we lay down in our tents; but just as 
sleep was closing our eyes the cry came again, "Up! 
boys! here they are! no mistake this timer Gut 
sprang ('•■cry man, gun in hand, into linp. Surely 
our first fight was upon us, tho't we as we looked at 
the blaze of musketry along the picket line. After 
standing and shivering in line and around the camp 



42 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

fires for several hours all again became quiet; and 
some one slanderously reported that it was only a 
little whiskey mixed with the powder on the picket 
line that caused the trouble. Occasionally, at least, 
too much whiskey got mixed with the powder during 
the war. 

The stay at the Cape, doing garrison duty in the 
winters of 1862-3, was one of those irksome, monot- 
onous times disliked by the soldier. About every 
third morning, a man could expect to get ready for 
guard mounting, be marched down to be reviewed 
and inspected by the post adjutant, and after parley 
and standing in line, march out as guard to Port C r 
A, or B, or to picket the Benton, Bloomfield or Jack- 
son road. The night might be dark, a misty rain and 
a dense fog on the Mississippi river,which will make 
the blackness of darkness, if anything in this world 
can, or it may be in a drenching storm of rain, snow 
and sleet, or the night may be piercing cold, but the 
sentinel must stand at his post; or, if on a fort, must 
quickly walk his beat on the breast work, keep his 
ears well open to give the alarm at the first approach 
of a wily foe; but the first alarm the cautious sentinel 
may receive may be the crack of a gun of a stealthy 
fire that brings to him death. This, together with 
occasional batalion drills, inspections and dress pa- 
rades made up the work for the winter of 1862 and '63. 

Nothing broke the monotony except an occasion- 
al false alarm, and some raids into the country. One 
was under the command of Captain Rozelle in which 
the noted Archie Price, a relative of old Pap Price, 
was captured. One was a trip down the river, on a 
boat, under Lieutenant Campbell, in which the boys 
had some romantic experiences with the treachery 
of the boat's crew. The boat was bound for Mem- 
phis. Five paymasters were on board armed with 
the necessary "greenbacks'^ pay the troops below. 
Lieut. Campbell was ordered, with a squad from our 
regiment, to report to the boat to protect and guard 
the five P. M's. and their little iron safes, containing 
millions of the precious paper. But he soon dis- 
covered that the captain of the boat had an anxious 
earo for some other goods marked "private," some 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 43 

"dry goods,'" Kinne-Keenec tobacco, &c. The boat 
reached Island No. 10 in safety, delivered the mail to 
our troops there with dispatch, and then hastily 
drew in her cables and was swinging out into the chan- 
nel, when the commander of the post ordered her 
again to "heave to and land." To this the captain 
objected, but just then a solid shot from one of the 
heavy guns of one of the forts, sweeping over her 
bow, said, "you must!" and she did. 

A search disclosed the facts that the boxes mark- 
ed "Tobacco" contained quinine and other medicines, 
and the others contained clothing and arms, and that 
the boat's crew was in a conspiracy to run the boat 
into a point on the Arkansas shore, then in the pos- 
session of a Guerrilla Band, and deliver all over to 
the enemy. A new captain and crew were placed in 
charge of the boat, and she was again sent on the 
way, while the old captain and crew were placed in 
durance vile. Treachery on the part of steamboat 
crews about this time was not infrequent. A few 
days after, the steamer White Cloud was made to 
haul to, and search discovered a large amount of reb- 
el mail and over $18,000 in gold, ready to be turned 
over to the enemy at the first convenient point. 

During the holidays and the early part of Janu- 
ary, scouts reported that the enemy was preparing 
to take the Cape. Bill Jeffries, a noted Methodist 
preacher in Southeast Missouri before the war, then 
a noted Guerrilla leader, and said to be familiar with 
every cow path in that part of the state, was patrol- 
ing the country, marshaling forces. And that 
"Swamp Fox." Jeff Thompson,— it was said had a 
force of 7.000 men collecting in and around Bloom- 
field and "Nigger Wool Swamp." (Nigger Wool 
Swanqi is a vast slough of sunken lands extending 
from the river about New Madrid, back some thirty 
miles. In places it is at times navigable for large 
class steamboats. The banks and places through 
the swamps are covered with heavy timber. See 
Gen Pope's report of his campaign against NewMad- 
rid,) for the purpose of making a dash on the Cape. 
It was then guarded by our detalchment, some home 
militia and a company of artillery then in a state of 



44 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

mutiny which made some of our assistance an uncer- 
tain quantity at best, and caused a doubling up of 
our guard and picket duty; and from the fact that 
we then had no cavalry with us for general scout or 
picket work, the enemy could come within two miles 
of town without being perceived. It required us to- 
be always on the alert, and ever ready to resist 
an attempted surprise. At times there were not 
men enough for a camp guard — so much picket work 
and the want of rest and sleep began to tell on the 
health of the men. 



CHAPTER IV. 



The winter passed off quietly, and not unpleas- 
antly, the duties of the camp being rather monoton- 
ous. Daily drill, camp guard, rations and an appe- 
tite, were the lot of the Four Companies until, as 
told by Sergeant Boyd: — 

The 14th of March brought marching orders for 
Bloomfield, the county seat of Stoddard county. Mo. , 
and the boys rejoiced at the prospect of release from 
Garrison duty. Arriving at Bloomfield, on the 16th, 
the detachment was camped east of town near Henry 
Miller's big spring; Miller's big log house becoming 
headquarters and boarding house for our officers. 
Here for the soldier was another term of guard duty, 
picketing the roads and guarding the old log jail, 
generally well filled with rebel prisoners. These 
prisoners presented a medley of humanity. One of 
them was a Baptist minister, from Alabama, with the 
rank of 1st. Lieutenant in the Rebel army; an edu- 
cated and accomplished gentleman. Another was a 
Methodist preacher from Kentucky. Another claim- 
ed to be a native of French Guiana, South America. 
He no doubt had been an adventurous fellow, had 
s Q en much of the world, and could tell many thrilling 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 45 

stories of his adventures and hairbreadth escapes, 
by sea and by land. Many an hour was spent in so- 
cial chat by the guards and some of the prisoners, 
sitting on the ground along the guard line. 

One day a cavalry officer brought in a squad of 
prisoners, and, turning them over to the Sergeant 
of the guard, said, ''There is a hard one. Look out 
for him," pointing to a man that some of the other 
prisoners called Judge Taylor. He was a stout, well 
built man, all muscle and nerve, and no doubt a man 
of great physical endurance. His countenance and 
skin looked as though he had been thoroughly steep- 
ed in filth and tobacco juice. His clothes, a butter- 
nut suit, were dirty and filthy- His physiognomy 
would indicate much low cunning and native shrewd- 
ness, mixed with a disposition of cruelty. He was a 
specimen leader among the swamp angel bushwhack- 
ers who infested the swamps and sunken lands of 
southeast Missouri. He bore the titles of Judge, 
Provost Marshal and recruiting officer. Just after 
he was passed into the guard lines, his wife ap- 
proached the line with a change of clothing. The 
Sergeant of the guard was required to carefully ex- 
amine the clothing and pass his thumb and finger 
over every seam to see that they contained nothing 
contraband. This was easily done with the clothes 
brought by the woman, for if they were not clean, if 
the dirt was boiled in, the graybacks were boiled 
dead. But when the Sergeant was compelled to 
stand over the old Judge while he changed suits and 
examine the cast off clothes before turning them 
over to the woman, then came the tug of war. To 
hold his nose as far away as possible from the stench 
and to hold the clothes away so that the graybacks 
might not fall on himself were the two main points; 
but every seam was carefully examined despite the 
falling graybacks, while officers and soldiers stand- 
ing by enjoyed the sport at the Sergeant's expense. 

One of the most notorious of these bushwhackers 
was a desperado known as Jack Cato, who boasted 
that he had made at least (80) eighty Union men bite 
the dust. Some forty rods down the hill, east of the 
old jail, was a piece of timber land, and at the point 



46 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

of the timber was a tree, a large limb or branch 
spreading over the ploughed ground, on the upper 
side of which the bark was worn off, and Jack boast- 
ed that it was done by the rope, hanging Union men 
thereon. Three Uuion men were caught and made 
to dig three graves under that tree. The first was 
hung and thrown into the first grave, the second one 
hung and put into the second grave, the third was 
hung up and then let down and ordered to go and re- 
port to the Yanks, and his grave left open. Just as 
the first ray of light could be seen in the east on a. 
beautiful April morning Jack was taken from jail, 
marched down to that grave where a rough coffin 
was placed, required to about face and kneel upon 
the coffin when the unerring bullet from the gun of 
one of the guards, selected for the purpose, sped to 
his heart. He fell upon his coffin with a terrible oath 
on his lips and soon filled a felon's grave. On the 
night before the execution of the wretched man, some 
of the boys were on guard at the jail, and when they 
informed him of his fate, he swore that he did not 
care; he had had his satisfaction in killing Union 
men; at least eighty "Yanks" had died from the shot 
of his rifle, when they didn't know he had the drop 
on them." Chaplain Wood called to see him, but was 
only met by defiant sneers and curses. 

On the 19th of April we moved camp to the north- 
west part of town. We then supposed that we were 
to remain at Bloomfield all summer; went to work, 
carried old rails, timbers and boards and made com- 
fortable summer quarters. The night of the 20th,. 
worked late to get them nicely fixed. It was eleven 
o'clock at night before we were ready to lie down on 
our newly made bunks. But just then we heard the 
picket, on the Greenville road, call out, "Halt! Who 
comes there?" The rapidly approaching horseman 
reined up his horse, and, after a parley with the 
guards, was taken in charge and conducted to Major 
Eberhart's quarters. As he passed through camp he 
said, "Boys you have marching orders for Dallas at 
four o'clock. " Soon the order rang through camp. 
li Up,boys! every man! and draw three days rations; have 
them cooked and in your haversacks; forty rounds of 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 47 

cartridges in your cartridge box and be ready to 
march at four o'clock." 



CHAPTER V. 



A Lively Footrace. Finding a soft spot in 
the Life of the Soldier. 

By the first peep of day the detachment was in 
line moving by the Cape Girardeau road. We met 
the train and mail some 20 miles from Bloomfield. 
They halted, delivered us our mail and then turned 
back for the Cape. The detachment continued the 
march on the Cape Girardeau road, camping the first 
night on the ground on which we camped when first 
going to Bloomfield. On the second day we turned 
for Dallas and were soon meandering among the 
swamps and sunken lands. Striking the head of 
Nigger Wool Swamp, at first the mud and slush 
came over shoe top. but soon we were in to our knees 
and even waist deep in the filthy water and slush. 
Sometimes an old log would come in our line along 
which you could see the boys crawl turtle like, but 
at the end of the log down again the boys must go 
wadino- and plunging as we would sing out, No bottom! 
No bottom' These sunken lands and swamps are said 
to be the result of the earthquake of 1812, when the 
town of New Madrid was sunk and destroyed and 
thev run through some four or five counties of bout ti 
East Missouri, and the country being heavily timber- 
ed the swamps made grand hiding places for Guerilla 
Bands, hence the name "Swamp Angels. After get- 
ting through the swamp we came to a nice farm be- 
longing to an old rebel named Snider. But where 
were our teams? Back in the swamps. Six mule 
teams down in the mud and slush to their backs. The 
boys declared that they could see Tom Payne s lead 
mules wallowing through the mire and J^tseethe 
t^s of their oars above the water. Oar delachment 



48 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

train came through but General McNeill's team and 
troops were swamp bound. But the General riding 
into Snider's yard, presented his revolver at old man 
Snider's head and then turning to his wagon master 
said, "take that man with you and if he don't bring 
the train through by a better road, shoot him down 
and leave him on his tracks." They came through 
by a better road. In the mean time we were resting 
at Snider's house and enjoying our dinner on divider's 
honey and hard tack. But our officers appeared to 
have no sweet tooth in their heads, or they were 
afraid of old Snider's honey. 

The evening of the 22nd we were at Dallas, hav- 
ing made some 60 miles by our meandering rouie in 
two days, The latter part of the last day's maich 
was over a rough hilly country. Here we had march- 
ing orders for the Cape at four o'clock next morning, 
and by four we were in line, but as we were rear 
guard the sun was ascending the Heavens before we 
were fairly in motion. Then we had orders to move 
with all possible speed and be ready for an attack at 
any moment from the rear or either flank. Squads 
of men could be seen hovering upon our rear and 
flanks. The road was hilly and in places rough and 
stony, yet the distance to Jackson, 22 miles, was 
made in a little less than six hours. The afternoon 
of the day we left Bloomfield, it was occupied by 
rebel troops concentrating there from Pine Bluffs, 
Des Arc, and other points in Arkansas. Marmaduke 
and Shelby had gone west of us, striking through the 
west part of Wayne county, taking the little town of 
Patterson and making a dash thence into Fredrick- 
town, while Carter had concentrated his force, a bri- 
gade of Texas cavalry on the Mississippi river, be- 
low Cape Girardeau. Marmaduke's scouts claimed 
to have captured dispatches showing that General 
McNeill was ordered to move to Pilot Knob, and 
hence when we reached Dallas (then the county seat 
of Bollinger county, and now Marble Hill) Marma- 
duke and Shelby were between us and our destined 
point if that was our intended move on the warring 
chess board. And when we marched for the Cape, 
the force of Marmaduke and Shelby were moving in 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 49 

behind us, while Burbridge and Colton Green were 
moving- for the Cape by the Bloomfield road, aiming" 
to combine with Carter and unite all their forces to 
take the Cape, which, before our reaching it was gar- 
risoned only by the 1st Nebraska and some artillery. 
Upon reaching Jackson, we rested until the afternoon 
of the 24th and then marched leisurely into Cape 
Girardeau. About ten o'clock, Saturday night, un- 
der a tlag of truce, a demand for an unconditional 
surrender of the place with all its forts, troops, arms 
and army stores in thirty minutes, was sent to Gen. 
McNeill. The demand purported to be signed by 
Gen. Sterling Price. (Price was then at Pidgeon 
Hill, Arkansas. ) Gen. McNeill replied, that he 
would only ask one minute to refuse the demand, and 
begged Gen. Price to give him credit for the other 
twenty-nine minutes. 



CHAPTER VI. 



A good story is none the worse for being told by 
other witnesses, if they see the facts from different 
stand-points. Sergeant Boyd gives the view as pre- 
sented to him ; that of an enlisted man, with sub- 
ordinate duties; and it must be agreed that he has 
well told the tale as his notes and memory served 
him. Major Eberhart being in command of the De- 
tachment was better informed, from necessity, of 
the reasons for the various movements. He was ac- 
companied by Assistant Surgeon Wasson, the only 
member of the Regimental Staff that could be spared, 
and had almost sole authority in the Detachment. 

In a letter of recent date Major Eberhart gives 
some of the details of the movements of the Four 
Companies, comprising the removal from Benton 



50 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



Barracks to Cape Girardeau, and the occupation of 
that Post. At the risk of some repetion the compiler 
deems it proper to insert both versions, believing- 
that those who were the actors will be equally inter- 
ested in each of them. 




Col. G. A. Eberhart. 



Major Eberhart says: 

At 12 M. of Nov. 25, 1862, I marched Companies- 
A, D, P and G, from Benton Barracks expecting- to 
embark on steamer ".4raryo"for Cape Girardeau. Ar- 
riving at the landing we found the steamer could 
carry but one company in addition to her cargo and 
passengers. Company A, T Capt. Cutler in command. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 51 

was placed on board, and the steamer ''Isabella'" was 
assigned to transport the other companies to our 
destination. The Companies D, F, and G, were 
placed on board. Next morning learning that the 
steamer would not leave St. Louis until the evening 
of the 27th, the detachment marched back to Benton 
Barracks to comfortable quarters. Afternoon of the 
27th w T e again marched to the steamer, embarked, 
and at 6 p. m. moved out from the landing and start- 
ed for Cape Girardeau, where we arrived at 5 p, m. 
next day. 

Before arrival of detachment the garrison at 
Cape Girardeau was Capt. Meisnser's Company D, 
2d, Mo. Artillery, 150 men and officers. This com 
pany had been very thoroughly drilled during near- 
ly a year's service on garrison duty; and were quite 
expert in the "manual" with their muskets. 

The manner in which our "awkward squads" 
handled our old Prussian Muskets amused the 
"dutchmen" and they did not conceal the fact. The 
men began to interest themselves in the manual of 
arms and made the work of the officers comparative- 
ly easy, so that in three months our men had a poor 
opinion of the slow motions of the dutchmen. In six 
months after landing at Cape Girardeau the four 
companies were well drilled in "manual," "Keltons 
Bayonet exercise," marching in line and all evolu- 
tions of company and battalion in the skirmish drill 
to bugle signals, and were not excelled by any Regi- 
ment of Volunteers we met in the service. 

As ordered I assumed command of the Post on 
December 1st, and placed Lieut. Chas. A. Bannon of 
Co. G. on duty as Provost Marshal, 

After the weather became cold we took posses- 
sion of some buildings on Main street, and obtaining 
lumber from an old mill above town, fitted up com- 
fortable bunks. 

During the winter months, the rebels Col. M. 
Jeff Thompson and Col,Jeffers, with several hundred 
partly armed troops crossed the St. Francis River 
into Missouri, occupied Bloomfield and the roads 
leading to New Madrid and Cape Girardeau, threat- 
ening both points, but in no condition to attack 



52 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

either. 

On January 27, 1863. about 250 Missouri Militia 
made a dash into Bloomfield and captured a large 
number af these men. 

Gen. Marmaduke after returning 1 to Batesville, 
Arkansas, from his raid to Springfield, Mo., about 
the last of January wrote to Lieut. Gen. Holmes in 
command at Little Rock proposing a raid into South 
East Missouri. Answering on February 16, Lieut. 
Gen. Holmes says; 

"Your plan is a bold one, but I think you are 
mistaken about the Missouri people. They are thor- 
oughly cowed, and require an overwhelming force to 
assist if they raise their hands against their oppres- 
sors. * * Advise me where Blount's, Schofield's, 
and other Federal forces are." 

Again on February 27th, Holmes writing 
to Marmaduke; 

"Thinks if you go without large force of infan- 
try and must abandon Missouri, the friends will be 
left to a merciless foe who would not hesitate to destroy 
every man, woman or child that showed you sympathy." 
* * "You over-estimate their zeal, under-estimate 
the effect of the iron and diabolical rule of the enemy 
over there.'" They will refuse to lift a hand unless 
sure of protection, vide Maryland, Kentucky, and 
Tennessee. 

The official returns made March 1st 1863 by 
confederate commanders, place Marmaduke's com- 
mand present for duty, officers 203, men 2354, aggre- 
gate present 3200, present and absent 5163. Whole 
force in District of Arkansas for duty, officers 1509, 
men 19178, aggregate present 25313, present and ab- 
sent 41305. 

On March 10th Col. Hughes at New Madrid 
sends message to head quarters that scouts report 
Marmaduke about to invade Missouri and strike 
Bloomfield. Col. John McNeil with his Regiment of 
Mo. S. M. occupied Bloomfield about the 1st of 
March, his advance driving out a small force of the 
enemy. His scouting parties meeting considerable 
resistance in Arkansas and Missouri, South and West 
from Bloomfield, he called for reinforcements to be 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 53 

sent to Bloomfield. On March 13th orders were re- 
ceived at Cape Girardeau directing 1st Wisconsin 
Cavalry, Col. La Grange, Detachment Thirty Second 
Iowa Infantry, Major Eberhart, and Welfly's Battery, 
to march to Bloomfield and report to Col. McNeil. 
On March 14th the command marched from Cape 
Girardeau arriving at Bloomfield at 11:30 a, m. on 
17th. On March 15th, while the reinforcements 
were marching to Bloomfield, Gen. McNeil sent the 
following dispatch to Head Quarters at Cape Girar- 
deau : 

"I have just returned from a scout against 
Thompson. I have driven him from the state and 
captured half of his ragamuffins. Marmaduke now 
threatens me, and from the way I am reinforced, I 
expect they intend he shall have me and my regi- 
ment. , 

"Major, for God's sake! hurry up the command 
sent to me. Do get Welfiy to march night and day. 
Until he gets here with his battery, I shall not feel 

risrht. '' 

On March 21st McNeil reports to Davidson that 
Marmaduke's advance is seven miles from Poplar 
Bluff Mo., and on the 23rd he says, "Marmaduke is 
not this side of Pocahontas, if he has left Batesville. 
Then again on the 24th he says, '-Marmaduke is still 
at Batesville, and cannot move before the middle of 

April:'' , L . , 

While at Bloomfield the detachment had a com- 
fortable place to camp. The time was passed in 
guard duty and drill, more attention being given to 
skirmish drill, using the bugle for signals. 1 he 
guard duty was something more than at Cape Girar- 
deau, and the men began to learn something of ser- 

^ April 2nd, to 8th, Col. Green was on the march 
toward Doniphan, Mo., and reported to Gen Marma- 
duke, who was at Powhattan, Ark. April 14th Jo. 
Shelby crossed into Missouri, and says: "1 hear Mc- 
Neil is at Poplar Bluffs; if he is I will find him. 

April 16th, Greene at Pitman's Ferry, Current 
River Mo. On same day Gen. Davdison telegraphs 
McNeil: "Concentrate all your command at Bloom- 



54 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

field except one company at Chalk Bluff and one at 
Poplar Bluff ;be prepared to fall back by way of Dallas 
and Fredericktown so as to concentrate with the 
troops from Patterson and Pilot Knob. " 

McNeil had at Bloomfield, 2nd Missouri Cavalry, 
1st Wisconsin Cavalry, 8 Companies 4th Missouri 
Cavalry, 4 Companies 32nd Iowa Infantry, and 8 
guns from Batteries, in all about 2700 men. He de- 
cided to fortify, and told Gen. Davidson April 20th, 
he would send him plans. The camp of detachment 
was for this reason moved to the location where 
works would be built. 

But on April 20th Marmaduke was at Patterson, 
Missouri. 50 miles from Arkansas, captured the 
place, and on the 21st sent Carter's Texas brigade 
with Pratt's battery against McNeil at Bloomfield, 
and sent Jo. Shelby with his brigade to Frederick- 
town. 

(Marmaduke's report states he had 5000 men 
and ten guns; 1200 men were unarmed and 900 dis- 
mounted.) 

On the night of April 20th orders were given to 
march out on Cape Girardeau road at four a. m. next 
day. The command moved about 5 a. m. and camp- 
ed at night 28 miles from Bloomfield. The next day 
the command marched to Dallas; part of the way 
through swamps, and two miles of the distance 
through running water. Dallas was reached in the 
afternoon. Next forenoon marched to Jackson, be- 
cause McNeil discovered that the rebels were be- 
tween his troops and Pilot Knob. 

On the 24th the command moved to Cape Girar- 
deau. Carter reports that he pursued us to within 
four miles of that place. 

* * 

# 

These separate accounts bring us again to Cape 
Girardeau, on the evening of April 24th, having been 
absent since the morning of March 14th. Marmaduke 
was close upon the heels of McNeil, and the follow- 
ing morning disposed his forces for the capture of 
the place. He seems to have been met by an effect- 



TOW A VOLUNTEERS. 55 

ive disposition of McNeil's limited force, and was re- 
pulsed, with some loss. McNeil received some re- 
inforcement from St. Louis during the engagement, 
and the incessant screaming of the whistles of the 
boats appears to have caused the enemy to greatly 
magnify the aid thus rendered. But for this and 
some other blunders of Marmaduke it was thought 
he might have captured Cape Girardeau, with impor- 
tant stores and material. 

The detachment of 32nd Iowa did good service. 
Some of them who had been on the advanced picket 
line fell back to a ravine between the contending 
forces, where, with no opportunity of firing a gun 
the shot and shell passed both ways over their heads. 
It can certainly be said of these that they were "un- 
der fire." The rebel gunners were quite careless, 
and some missiles fell among our boys, but none 
were struck. The body of the detachment held an 
important position that was not assailed, and happily 
no Iowa blood was shed in this affair. 

Marmaduke retreated on the Jackson road. Gen. 
Vandever was coming down from Pilot Knob, and at- 
tacked Marmaduke next morning. There was an open 
way by the Bloom field road by which McNeil could 
have gained the Whitewater bridge in front of Mar- 
maduke, and held him for Vandever. The men ex- 
pected such a movement. It was not made, and 
Marmaduke got away. Such is war under incompe- 
tent commanders. Either force can be relied upon 
with much probability for a blunder that will neutra- 
lize the blunder of the opposing force. Afterwards, 
on paper, any of us can fight the battle to bring 
about another result. Had Marmaduke not blunder- 



56 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

ed he would have captured Cape Girardeau. Had 
McNeil and Vandever acted in concert they would 
have captured Marmaduke! 

At daylight next morning Vandever attacked 
Marmaduke. At 5 p. m, in a steady rain, the De- 
tachment started for Bloomfield, marched five miles, 
and camped for the night. They were hardly set- 
tled until an order came from Vandever for them to 
return to the Cape. Before they could get started 
Col. John C. Black, of the 37th Illinois, (later the 
famous Pension Commissioner,) appeared, and or- 
dered Eberhart to "move at once for Bloomfield!" A 
short parley; Company A went to the Cape; the other 
three companies started to Bloomfield. An all night 
march, much of it in the swamps, the men often 
sprawling in the black mud and water, and continu- 
ing till four p. m. next day, brought the Detachment 
into camp six miles from Bloomfield. 

After a running fight for forty miles beyond 
Bloomfield the enemy crossed the swollen St. Francis 
River, and escaped from Vandever, who returned to 
Bloomfield. On this chase some of the infantry 
marched more than thirty miles without food. The 
casualties were few, but the effect of such marches 
is disastrous and lasting-. 



CHAPTER VII. 



The Detachment having returned to Cape Girar- 
deau remained until July, when the surrender of 
Vicksburg, battle of Helena, and the capture of Port 
Hudson, opening the Mississippi, suggested a cam- 
paign for the possession of Arkansas. 

On this third march to Bloomfield, some mem- 
bers of the Detachment, acting without orders, re- 
membering some of the outrages upon loyal citizens 
and captured soldiers at certain points on the road, 
burned some houses that had been a shelter for the 
offenders. This indiscretion gave great offence to 
Gen. Davidson, who was in command. It does not 
appear reasonable that a man entrusted with the 
command of patriotic Volunteers in such a war should 
vent his personal spleen upon an entire body of men 
because of the supposed faults of a few individuals. 
It is a fact, however, that men of a certain caliber, 
when in command of troops, .regard every infraction 
of their orders, however foolish the order and unin- 
tentional the offense, as a direct insult to themselves, 
and to their shoulder-straps. They cannot pursuade 
themselves to simply regard an act as an offense 
against the rules for the government of armies, and 
a proper subject for discipline under those rules. 
Such men resort to personal punishments, and in the 
case of individuals would order that the offender 
carry a rail in front of the tent of the brutal officer giv- 
ing the order. 

Whether or not by this means the Detachment 
incurred the hatred of the doughty officer in com- 
mand, and became the victim of an unreasoning ven- 



58 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



geance, may never be known. But it would be hard 
to pursuade many of the men who suffered, and 
whose comrades died under the hardships of a long 
campaign in which a small body of infantry was com- 
pelled to follow a cavalry expedition, that the act 
was not one of brutality rather than idiocy! Of this 
campaign Sergeant Boyd says: 




Sergt. J. M. Boyd, 

At Bloomfield Gen. Davidson issued an order- 
that we should bo attached to the 3d brigade of his 
cavalry division. An extra pair of shoes war. issued 
to each man, with an order that "he must carry them 
in his knapsack.'' The men must also carry their 
tents, 40 rounds of cartridges,, throe days rations, and 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 59 

march to keep up with cavalry. 

We left Bloomfield by the West Prairie and Chalk 
Blu If road, and although the day was hot, kept pace 
with the Reserve brigade of cavalry, Col. Caldwell 
commanding. By 2 o'clock p. m. next day had made 
forty miles, crossing the Saint Francis river at Chalk 
Bluff and continued the meandering march down that 
stream among the miasmatic marshes, under the heat 
of a scorching sun, where good water was unknown. 

Reaching Wittsburg, the command halted, to 
have the sick sent to Helena, and to procure supplies. 
Here scouts reported that Price and Marmaduke were 
between us and Jacksonport preparing to give us bat- 
tle. Preparations were made to receive thorn, forti- 
fying the approaches to Wittsburg and the junction 
of the Jacksonport and Helena roads, and keeping 
out a strong picket force, and the reserves well in 
hand. No enemy appearing in forco, the command 
started again and moved towards Helena, but when 
some twenty-five miles west of that place it halted 
and made a Hank movement to the west, reaching 
Clarendon, on White river, on the 24th. The weath- 
er was exceedingly hot, and especially so when com- 
ing in contact with the trains and cavalry as they 
would pass and repass. Men marched in dense clouds 
of dust, and many, overcome with the heat and dust, 
gave out and fell by the wayside, and were unable to 
reach camp until far in the nigh*-. At Clarendon 
more sick men were left. Camp dysentery and ma- 
lari il fevers now commenced to tell fearfully among 
the men. 

August 10th Major Eberhart received orders to 
hold battalion in readiness, with five days rations, 
to go on gunboats up the river to capture boats of 
the enemy. On the 12th Captain DeTar. with A and 
D, boarded the gunboat Cricket, while F and G went 
upon the Marmora, with Major Eberhart. At Des 
Arc the Major went aboard the Lexington, with 
Capt. Bache, who commanded the flotilla. They 
proceeded carefully up the Little Red river, a tribu- 
tary of the White river, a narrow, deep stream, and 
then bank full from recent rains. The three boats 
carried each six guns; two on the Lexington were 



60 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

long range Parrot guns, and the others were 24 
pound howitzers. At Des Arc, a corporal's guard 
was sent ashore, with a squad of men as pickets, and 
to see where the Johnnies went. Going to a house 
not far away, they found a man who knew nothing, 
as a matter of course, but he was taken in all the 
same, and put in charge of one of our scouts. An 
old darkey said: "Two small boats went up the 
river carrying supplies to Marmaduke's men. The 
white folks said. 'No, hadn't seen any boats for 
months,' but darkey says 'Dey up de ribber in de 
bend." Darkies didn't often lie to Union soldiers. 
Continuing up the river and turning a sharp bend 
near Searcy landing, hove in sight of a pontoon 
bridge, over which a portion of Marmaduke's troops 
had just crossed, leaving their pickets at the bridge, 
when lo! there lay two small transports, the Tom 
Suggs and Kaskaskia, and our captured man. who 
"knew nothing," was the pilot who ran them in there. 
One shot from our bow gun caused them to surren- 
der, and our own men boarded them, throwing out 
skirmishers, driving away their pickels, capturing 
their dinner of corn-bread and roasting ears, and throw- 
ing a few shells as a salute into Shelby's camp just 
to let the "dashing Joe" know that we were in friend- 
ly nearness to him, (in fact, we were 'almost to the 
camp of Shelby's brigade,') burned the pontoon, and 
then turned down stream, Lieutenant Templin in 
command on the Kaskaskia in the lead. Before re- 
turning, cotton bales were taken on board and a line 
of bullet-proof breast-works built around the boats 
composing the little fleet. Shelby, taken by sur- 
prise at the bold, defiant bearing of the little squad, 
shelling the woods on either side, and throwing shot 
and shell so interestingly near his own camp, order- 
ed Thompson's brigade of infantry, a company of 
light artillery, and a company of sharp shooters to 
pursue and capture them by cutting across one of 
the great bends of the very winding little stream. 
When near West Point under cover of heavy timber 
and thick underbrush, they opened a murderous fire, 
the aim appearing to be to kill the pilots, and there- 
by cripple the movement of the little fleet; but the 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 61 

Cricket coming up gave them a volley of grape and 
canister. Col. Gilky, commanding their advance 
regiment and splendidly mounted, fell mortally 
wounded within ten feet of the Cricket, and died 
within a few hours. Major Sankey of the same regi- 
ment was also wounded. At times the Kaskaskia, 
the stream being very narrow, the limbs on both 
sides would brush the boats and swing them against 
the bank, and the enemy was only prevented from 
boarding her at the point of the bayonet. Had it 
not been for the protection of the cotton bales as 
breast-works hardly a man could have escaped. The 
utmost coolness and bravery was throughout exhib- 
ited by both officers and men. George H. Pox. of 
Co. D, was mortally wounded and died that night, 
and live or six others were also w r ounded. The ene- 
my's loss must have been very severe. One of their 
own reports admits that "they paid dearly for their 
temerity." 

On the 30th we went down White river about ten 
miles below Clarendon, and landed under the cover 
of the gunboats about 9 o'clock at night, and drove 
the enemy before us, they making a hasty retreat. 

On the 1st day of August the march was again 
resumed in the direction of Little Rock. On the 2d 
day of August that place bearing the euphonious name 
of Dead Man's Lake was reached. It was a sort of 
lake or pond or old river bed. filled with filthy w T ater, 
covered with a thick coating of green scum, and in- 
numerable insects, large and small, floating on the 
surface, and with plenty of dead fish in it. The day 
was hot, the country through which we marched, 
destitute of water, and men marched through clouds 
of dust, especially when coining in contact with 
trains and in passing and repassing the cavalry. The 
men's eyes, mouths, and nostrils w T ere full of dust, 
and w r hen we reached even the water of Dead Man's 
Lake, it was pre-empted by the cavalry, but a guard 
was placed over a portion of it. After it had been 
mixed by the horses feet, men crazed by thirst. drank 
what horses would not taste. The time spent in that 
part of Arkansas was one of suffering from heat and 
thirst, And the four Co's. of the Thirty Second 



62 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Iowa, not only marched to keep up with the cavalry, 
but did picket guard duty every night. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Gen. Marmaduke, after the affair of the Little 
Red, formed a junction with General Walker, and 
they moved their united commands for Brownsville. 

Gen. Davidson with his cavalry division and ar- 
tillery (our four companies of infantry being the 
support to the artillery ) also moved for Brownsville. 
Striking the open prairie of Prairie county, Ark., the 
entire command was thrown out in battle line, the 
four companies of the 32nd keeping pace as support 
to the artillery. Across the prairie, and at times in 
full sight, could be seen the enemy's infantry, caval- 
ry and artillery, retreating before us. The whole 
presented a grand army scene. Just before reaching" 
Brownsville, the enemy commenced a rather precipi- 
tate retreat, and moved somewhat rapidly for the 
skirt of pine timber to the left and beyond the vil- 
lage. Gen. Davidson then checked his advancing 
lines and ordered a halt. He suspected the decoy. 
The timber was planted with masked batteries, and 
men in ambush. Davidson preferred a flank move- 
ment to being caught in such a trap. It was proba- 
ble on this day that the difficulty between Gen. Walk- 
er and Gen. Marmaduke commenced, that resulted in 
a duel and the death of Walker, on the morning of 
Sept. 6, 1863, seven miles below T Little Rock. No 
doubt the envy and jealousy between Walker and 
Marmaduke gave us an easier victory at Little Rock. 

On the 23d, the Detachment again returned to 
DuVall's Bluffs, as guard to the supply train. 

On the 25th of August the command ag-ain march- 
ed from Du Vall's Bluffs to Brownsville. It was an- 
other hot day and it was 11 o'clock at night when 
the detachment marched into the little court house 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 63 

yard. As we marched in at the gate Gen. Davidson, 
who was standing near by, said: "Boys, lie down 
quickly and get some rest, for I will need you at an 
early hour, ""and then to another officer at his side 
said: "These brave boys have marched live hundred 
miles and kept up with the cavalry." And I might 
add that Gen. McPherson's medical director after- 
wards remarked at Vicksburg, when one of our men 
applied for a sick furlough: "The marching of four 
companies of infantry through on that campaign, to 
keep up with the cavalry was a burning shame, and 
one of the grandest outrages of the war. It was no 
wonder the men were all broken down." Gen. Dav- 
idson was a fine cavalry officer, but what have we to 
thank him lory Almost the entire way, from Du 
V all's Bluffs to Brownsville, was a level prairie, des- 
titute of water. Many of the men, overcome by heat, 
fell by the wayside. The ambulances could not haul 
all the sick. They would load up all that could pos- 
sibly be crowded in, then drive ahead of the column 
as far as it was thought safe; unload them by the 
roadside in the broiling sun and then return for an- 
other load. Thus the sick men were alternately 
hauled in ambulances and left by the roadside, in the 
scorching heat of the August sun, where not a drop 
of water could be had. 

At 2 a. m. of the 26th we were called out by re- 
veille, giving very little rest to the tired soldier. A 
march of nine miles, part of the time on double 
quick, brought us to the enemy's out posts and other 
rifle pits which were stormed and taken on the double 
quick. The enemy then retreated to another rise or 
ridge, where they attempted to plant their artillery, 
but our artillery opening on them, the shells sweep- 
ing through their lines, they again retreated. Our 
command was then ordered forward in pursuit down 
a long hill, through the timber and thick matted 
brush almost impossible to get through, to the edge 
of the bayou. 

Bayou Metaire is a sluggish, miry stream, with 
steep banks covered with a heavy growth of under- 
brush, and at all points difficult to cross. The bridge 
across the stream was prepared for destruction by a 



64 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

thorough coating of tar and turpentine. The artil- 
lery was so posted as to rake the road across it and 
sweep the bridge, and their infantry and dismount- 
ed cavalry deployed in strong skirmish lines on the 
opposite banks; the unevenness of the ground and 
the heavy timber and matted growth of underbrush, 
making for them a complete ambuscade. When the 
last of their rear guard had crossed the bridge, the 
torch was applied, and dense clouds of smoke rolled 
up. The enemy then opened with their artillery and 
a thousand muskets rang out from their ambuscade, 
thus disclosing to us their line and position, for so 
completely sheltered were they that we could only 
discover their whereabouts by the flash of their guns. 
Gen. Davidson brought his artillery quickly into 
play, and for a time the ringing of the musketry 
along the entire lines from both sides was incessant, 
and the roaring of the artillery, as they sent shot 
and shell on their errands of destruction lent its 
voice to swell the diapason of harmonious discord. 
After a time the musketry in a great measure ceased, 
and the engagement took more the form of an artil- 
lery duel. Gen. Davidson rode a splendid chestnut 
horse, and his movements during the day was a mat- 
ter of comment. Watching as he did with his field glass 
every movement of the enemy, now directing the fir- 
ing of our artillery, watching the execution of the 
shot and shell, and then off to the right flank and 
next to the left, in short, watching and directing 
every movement of his entire line. Our detachment 
lost one man; Robert Atkinson, of Co. D, shot 
through the bowels. And John Kirby shot through 
the thigh. 8. B. Williams was shot in the breast 
just above the heart. The ball striking a rib passed 
clear around the body, coming out through his clothes 
on the opposite side. 

The First Iowa Cavalry had twenty-one men 
killed in attempting to pass the bridge, being fired 
upon by the enemy in their ambush. In the evening 
the Detachment was ordered to fall back on the hill 
to support the artillery in an artillery duel with the 
enemy, and a portion of it was sent out as skirmishers 
and sharpshooters. Here the enemy got our range 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 65 

so completely that their shot and shell would scale 
the brow of the hill, making the dust and dirt fly, 
but by lying- down a little back of the brow they 
passed over us. Darkness found us here, and all 
the other troops and the artillery had withdrawn 
from the field, with the enemy closing around us. 
But we returned that night to the rear of Browns- 
ville, Horace Greeley and all other authority to the 
contrary, notwithstanding. It was 1 o'clock that 
night when we were halted in an old corn-field near 
Brownsville. At the word "halt!" men laid down 
between corn rows (no attempt being made at en- 
campment or an alignment) and were soon asleep. 
But dense, dark clouds over- hung the skies, and 
soon the rain came down in torrents thoroughly soak- 
ing ground and men alike. When daylight dawned 
that old field was a vast slough of red mud, and the 
boys drenched and muddy, without any rations. 
They soon discovered a sweet-potato patch, and had 
a sweet-potato breakfast, and then moved out of the 
old mud field to a decent camping place in the tim- 
ber. After a few days, moved camp to the north 
side of town and camped at the edge of a little grove 
of oaks, and an old double log house, and back of 
the camp was a pond of stagnant water where the 
men could go to wash their clothes. In a few days 
nearly every man was on the sick list. (In there- 
port of the battle of Bayou Metaire, as published 
first in the Chicago papers, not an officer or troop, 
engaged in the fight was mentioned. It was a great 
victory, gained by Gen. Steele and his troops — Steele 
was at Du Vall's Bluffs, thirty-nine miles away!) 

On the last night of August, owing to the in- 
tense heat, the supply train was ordered to go to Du 
Vall's Bluffs in the night, and our Detachment to go 
as train guard. Only forty men could be raised in 
the four companies, and fifteen of them were too 
weak to march, but the order was, "They must go; 
they can be piled on the wagon, and can shoot in 
case of attack." The train returned again in the 
night. 

By the 5th of September, there was scarcely a 
well man in that camp; not a man subject to detail. 



66 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Every nook and corner of that old house, on the 
porch, in the gangway, between the old houses, and 
in the old lofts, wherever a sick man could be laid, 
was taken up. Sick and dying were under trees, 
wherever shelter could be made for them. The camp 
had formerly been used by cavalry and could not be 
properly policed. It was crawling with maggots, 
and there were not well men enough to care for the 
sick and bury the dead. There was not men enough 
subject to detail to dig a grave. Dr. By am did all 
that any doctor could, under the circumstances, but 
he was crippled in his work for want of medicine. 
Our four companies of infantry were in advance of 
the main infantry army, and in advance of proper- 
medical and sanitary supplies, and even of the ordin- 
ary food of the soldier. Some of our hardtack was 
full of the u wee things.'* I have seen the men break 
up their hardtack into small bits and blow out the 
"little things" alive. Eat that, or nothing. In fact, 
in those days little was required or wanted to eat by 
the boys. 

On the 8th of September, camp was moved to 
the other side of town. All that could be were moved 
to a little grove south of the court house; an improve- 
ment in camps, but disease was doing its work, and 
the little graveyard in the brush back of the court- 
house taking its full share. 



CHAPTER IX. 



On the 13th an order came that all who could 
ride on the wagons should go to Little Rock. As the 
train moved away, the sick men from the little grove 
who were too sick to go were brought in and piled 
down in the broiling sun in the sand in front of the 
old Arkansas log tavern, chat stood just across the 
road from the court house. That sand, I know, was 
crawling with "gray backs," but there they were laid 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 67 

until those in the house could be laid more closely- 
together, so as to make room for them in the inn. 
Look out to the little grove. Under a little oak tree 
on a cot is a young man — George Macy. He was 
shot by bushwhackers, and his life is fast ebbing 
away. Kneeling by his side is Calvin M. Sayre, sup- 
plicating the throne of a merciful God on behalf of 
the dying boy. Sayre himself, was unable to walk to 
that cot, but was helped there by another soldier, 
that he might pray for his young comrade. In a few 
weeks he, too, was gone, and doubtless met his young 
friend around that Throne of Mercy. Looking over 
those lying in the sand into one of the rooms in the 
old tavern, side by side are two young men. Wilson 
Boyd, of Co. F, as he was raised up on his little pal- 
let of raw cotton, attempts to raise his hands, as with 
quivering lips he says, "Up! Up! Home! Home!" as 
the spirit takes its upward flight. The other, John 
H. Cain, of Co. G, is raging in the delirium of burn- 
ing fever, and is muttering of home, of friends, of 
loved ones, far away. Their spirits are soon in the 
spirit land, and their little cotton beds left for others. 
The worst were soon in their graves, the others tak- 
en to Little Rock, and the old tavern possibly left 
for a time without boarders. One morning, a squad 
of the enemy's cavalry came dashing into the village, 
shooting as they came. They shot two sick men, 
who had been able to walk out into the cool of the 
morning, both dying from the effects. 

A squad of "Merrill's Horse" who had been out 
on a scout had come and camped in the little grove. 
The night being very hot, they had taken off all their 
clothes, except their shirts, and laid down with their 
horses tied around them. On hearing the firing of 
the rebs they sprang to their feet, carbines and re- 
volvers in hand, when one of the liveliest of lively 
little shirt-tail fights took place, and the "Johnnies" 
went galloping out of town. For a few days after 
the command left Brownsville, the sick were treated 
by an Arkansas doctor living there. He treated them 
kindly, and possibly his knowledge of the malignant 
types of malarial fevers and dysentery, terminating 
at times in pleuro-pneumonia, and which were pecu- 



68 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

liar to that malarial climate, especially in a season, as 
that was said to be more than usually hot and dry, 
enabled him to treat them more successfully than 
our own physicians. That Arkansas doctor showed 
himself a gentleman. But camp dysentery in this 
malarial climate was a fearful scourge to the Union 
soldier. At Brownsville, it was mostly young men 
who died, but on reaching Little Rock numbers of 
our strong and most robust men of mature years ap- 
peared unable to rally, but sank to soldiers' graves. 
Here Gen. Davidson issued an order that the De- 
tachment should be relieved from all duty, except 
the care of its own sick in camp, adding that that 
was as much as it could do. 



CHAPTER X. 



The Detachment at Little Rock Joins the Six 
Companies at Vicksburg. 

The sick men left behind on this campaign cer- 
tainly received no extra care. They were shipped 
back to Wittsburg, thence to Helena, that death-hole 
to Union soldiers, and packed into the Hind man 
House Hospital, out of which sixteen Union soldiers 
per day were carried to the dead-house. Then all 
who could be moved were again sent around by boat 
to Clarendon on White river, where they were placed 
in an old shell of a building that had loose boards 
for a floor and neither doors nor windows. A camp 
kettle full of hardtack and another full of coffee 
twice a day was furnished these sick men. If a man 
had a tin cup or could borrow one, he could get some 
hardtack and coffee. The sick helped each other as 
well as they could, but such was the only food fur- 
nished men too sick and weak to walk. 

On the 21st day of July, 1863, a small stern-wheel 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 69 

boat sailed up White river, and all the sick at Claren- 
don were ordered on board. It was & scorching hot 
July (lei/ for Arkansas, and there was not a place on 
that boat, from the boiler deck to the hurricane deck 
where men could be laid, but was occupied by sick 
men, except the ladies' cabin, which was occupied by 
officers. Sick and dying men were laid on the hurri- 
cane deck of that boat in the broiling sun. The offi- 
cers in charge appeared to do and care nothing for 
the sick men. On the run of about four hours from 
Clarendon to DuVall's Bluffs, twenty-six men died. 
One of them was Corporal Carter, of Co, G, Thirty 
Second Iowa. 

At Du Vall's Bluffs, a number of our Detachment 
were sick, but a pompous puppet, on Gen. Steele's 
staff, ordered that they should receive no rations, be- 
cause they had no officer to draw them, and there- 
fore issued about sixteen "red tape" orders before 
the sick men could get rations, or sanitary stores. 
The command was only a mile away. Those who 
were ablest to walk helped the weaker, and thus 
reached the command. Several men died on reach- 
ing Brownsville. 

To all who had sufficient vitality left, Little 
Rock proved a healthy place. 

In October we moved to Benton, a small town 
twenty five miles southwest of Little Rock. Our 
stay here was one of our best times. The timber was 
all pine, and the water good and healthy. The De- 
tachment made several excursions into the country, 
one being down towards the Washita in which we 
captured a young officer from Bragg' s army. He 
was then sanguine of their success. , 

A SCARE. 

The night of Nov. 21st, was a beautiful night. 
Surely, I never saw a more lovely night in southern 
clime; and quite a number of the boys concluded that 
they must have a general "wash up." Tubs and wa- 
ter were brought into requisition, and clothes were 
taken off. Just as the water was being fairly splash- 
ed over the bare backs and naked limbs, the long 
roll began to beat, and the cry rang al.org the line 



70 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

of cabins: "Thirty Second into line! Quick! Quick!" 
The effort to put on linsey woolen shirts over our 
wet shoulders, in the hurried attempt to dress, 
caused us to present a scene decidedly ludicrous; 
while our officers kept nervously calling out, "■Into 
line! Quick! Quick!'' Wu could hear the crack of the 
musketry on a portion of the picket line, and the 
thought that the pickets might be driven in, pell mell 
upon us, and we captured, while dressed in our nat- 
ural state, was not especially comforting. Finally, 
all were dressed and in line, moving to the left of 
the village and through the open pine timber, to the 
scene of action. The night was very light, and on 
moved the battalion, at first in regular line of battle, 
and then it was ordered to deploy as skirmishers, and 
each man to keep a sharp lookout for the approach- 
ing foe. On reaching the scene of expected fight, all 
was quiet. But just then the musketry was blazing 
away to the right, and again, off to the left. So- 
after marching and counter-marching among the 
stately pines, it was discovered that one of the Vi- 
dettes saw a cow some distance outside the line and 
tried his hand at milking, but the "Johnnie" seeing 
him, shot at him with a revolver and wounded him in 
the hand. The shot was returned by one of the pick- 
ets, causing the alarm along the entire line. 

Some of our boys who had been left sick at Lit- 
tle Rock, and a number who had gone home on sick 
furlough and returned, started from Little Rock to- 
Benton with the supply train, but when the train got 
out into the big pine woods, a body of cavalry came 
dashing upon them. It was Jacob's guerilla bandi 
They made quick work of the train, burning - and des- 
troying what they could not take away. It was the 
work of but a few minutes to cut loose the mules, 
fire the wagons and scoop in the unarmed men as 
prisoners, and then dash off into the thick pine for- 
ests on the byways of Arkansas. Our boys having 
mostly been sick, were not in very good trim for a 
forced march. As the weaker ones gave out the- 
stronger ones would take them by the arms and help 
them along, and thus they were taken to the camp of 
Gen. Price, near Camden. Before leaving Little 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 71 

Kock the men had been furnished with new uniforms, 
but of these they were soon relieved and got in ex- 
change some butternut rags. When returned to 
Benton for exchange the men showed strong sign 1 -, of 
hard usage. Some had pieces of old hats on their 
heads, and some had skull caps made of rags. 
Among the number thus taken were: A. J. Ripley, of 
Co. A, and James Barrett, W. O. Wickham and J. C. 
Gordon of Co. F. By the time the Detachment 
reached Benton we were about destitute of even a 
soldier's kitchen furniture. There was scarcely a tin 
plate, tin cup or frying pan in the Detachment. 
Camp kettles were gone, and even our hardtack did 
not come. Just then came the order, "No foraging!" 
and did you ever know a hungry soldier to disobey 
such an order'? Well, we got some corn and we 
did "jay hawk" an old saw mill down on a branch of 
the Saline river. It had a little pair of mill-stones. 
We ground our corn, got Dutch ovens, and made 
pone; got pumpkins and squashes and occasionally 
had a pumpkin pie. We got axes and cut down the 
nice pine trees, made houses, and from old deserted 
buildings got lumber and brick, roofed our houses 
and made fireplaces, and with the red mud and pine 
sticks made chimneys, made bunks, seats and tables, 
and out of the corn husks made beds. Each com- 
pany had two houses 15x22, and a kitchen besides, 
and altogether, as soldiers we were having a good 
time. Our officers had their quarters in a large frame 
house, occupied by a man named Moore. It was in a 
grove, a little above and just overlooking our camp. 
It was built up on blocks high enough for chickens 
to roost and pigs to sleep under. After the boys had 
their houses all completed, they went to work and 
nicely policed the street in front of the row. The 
sun was sinking in the west behind the tall and shad 
ing" pines when the boys got nil completed, and they 
had it all nicely smoothed and leveled, as with h rol- 
ler. Just then Adjutant, Carpenter came walking 
down the nicely cleaned street with the order. "Pack 
up, boys! Pack up! and be ready to march tomorrow 
morning at 4 o'clock." 

It was the 23d of December. In the morning a 



.72 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

slight snow was on the ground. In a few hours the 
snow was melted. The roads were muddy and slip- 
pery, and the march to Little Rock was by no means 
an easy one. We camped in the pine woods near 
the city. A wedge tent was furnished to four men- 
just enough for them to lie under, with head and feet 
both unprotected. In a few days the weather be- 
came intensely cold for that latitude. The Arkansas 
river froze over solid enough for cavalrymen to cross 
on the ice. On a pond near camp ice froze three and 
one-half inches thick in one night. The last day of 
1863 and New Years, 1864, were said by old settlers 
to have been the coldest known there for thirty 
years. The thermometer went down to 10 ° below 
zero. The officers in their wall tents with sheet-iron 
stoves, could make themselves comfortable. The 
men, although they built up pens of pine poles and 
hoisted their tents on top for covering, could not but 
-suffer. They cut down large pitch pine trees and 
made huge camp fires, yet to shiver around them, 
while one side was freezing and the other burning 
was not extra comfortable. 

From January 30th until February 9th 1864 we 
were on the route, by boat, to Vicksburg; and on the 
11th camped near that city. On the /7th we remov- 
ed to Black River, fourteen miles out; and ,on March 
4th again removed to a camp near the city, where we 
joined the Six Companies of the Regiment that had 
just returned from the expidition to Meridian, under 
Sherman. We returned to the Regiment; but not all: 
for our pathway from Cape Girardeau, by way of 
Bloomfield, Helena, Clarendon, Du ValVs Bluffs, 
Brownsville, Little Rock and the pine forests , of 
Arkansas, was lined with the graves of our dead. 



CHAPTER XL 



The Six Companies at New .Madrid. Mo. 

The circumstances under which the Six Gompan 
ies of the 32nd Iowa Volunteers took Post at New 
Madrid, Mo., late in November, 1®62, are shown in 
the orders published on pages 39 and 40; including 
the letter of Major General Curtis, in command of 
the Department of Missouri, to General HalLeck, then 
in command of the Army, at Washington, D. C. 

The closing paragraph of Gen. Curtis's letter 
clearly indicates his petulance over the ordering 
away from New Madrid of the troops recently at that 
Post, without his consent. Had this temper been 
known to Colonel Scott when he received orders to 
reinforce Ft. Pillow, he might well have given the 
matter of miltary etiquette more serious thought. As 
time passed and brought an apparent crisis, that 
seemed to demand prompt action in the best interests 
of the service, he discovered that it was much safer; 
for a ranking Major General, (Grant), to shock the 
fastidiousness of Gen. Curtis, than it was for a subor 
dinate Colonel to involuntarily commit a similar im- 
aginary offence. But. more of this in its proper 
place. 

Though if has no bearing on the matters discuss- 
ed in this History other than as it illustrates the 
punctilious habits of Gen. Curtis, an anecdote that 
has probably never been told in print may be excus- 
ed. The General was a grand man and a good sol- 
dier, and had long had the friendship and admiration 
of his old neighbor in Ohio, that other grand man 
and distinguished citizen. Governor Eirkwood. In 
the matter of punctiliousness the two great men 



74 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

were antipodes. One would carefully solve a knotty 
problem that related simply to etiquette; the other 
would ignore it, or promtly cut the knot in twain. 
Those who knew both the gentlemen can hardly fail 
to appreciate the absurdity and embarrassment, of an 
interview between them which was founded entirely 
on military etiquette. 

During the early months of the great war Gen. 
Curtis was in command of Benton Barracks, the great 
camp of instruction for the western soldier, near St. 
Louis. Many of the Iowa Regiments were quartered 
there awaiting assignment. Governor Kirk wood vis- 
ited St. Louis at such a time, and was waited upon 
informally at his hotel by hundreds of Iowa soldiers, 
who paid their personal respects, or submitted to his 
consideration matters of business. Not so with Gen- 
e ral Curtis. 

As the sultry day wore on, and the brassy noon- 
tide passed, "Sam" Kirkwood, wearied with the con- 
stant meeting of many friends, and no doubt missing 
"Sam" Curtis, and wondering at his obsence, went to 
his room for a period of rest. Divesting himself of 
garments not necessary to his comfort in the privacy 
of his own apartments — which included all his outer 
clothing — he threw himself upon the bed. in 
due time he responded to a knock on the door with a- 
hearty, "Come in!" The waiter presented the card 
of General S. E. Curtis, and Staff, etc., etc. The 
Governor ordered his old chum to be sltown to his 
room! 

Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis, buttoned to 
the throat, belted and sashed, "sword and pistols by 
his side," with regulation gold lace and silken cords 
and tassels, epauletts and plumes in place, with firm 
and angry step followed the African guide; and his 
brilliant and numerous Staff, similarly arrayed, in 
amazement mingled with mirth followed him! The 
guests were received by the War Governor, the Pa- 
triot and Statesman, sitting on the side of ihe bed 
from which he had thus far risen, sans coat. sans vest, 
sans boots, with open collar, and one suspender dansr- 
ing in most picturesque fashion by his side, vu ( m- 
bodiment of comfort and repose, until he saw the ar- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 



ray before him, and realized that there is such a thing 
as etiquette! He could never forget that he was al- 
ways "Sam 1 ' Kirkwood! But in that interview there 
was but one "Sam." where he supposed there would 
be two! 

The reader may better imagine than I describe 
the feelings of both the distinguished gentlemen in 
this ludicrous situation. The presence of the gorge- 
ously arrayed Staff rendered it impossible for the 
General to dismount from his high-horse dignity at a 
mere moments notice; and for once in his life the cool 
and practical War Governor could but agree that he 
was taken by surprise, and captured in bed! A hur- 
ried introduction of the Staff Officers to the Govern- 
or in deshabile followed, and the military visitors made 
a hasty and undignified retreat, both parties to the 
engagement acknowledged themselves vanquished! 

It need not be said that in the misrepresentations 
and annoyances growing out of the affair at New- 
Madrid, his boys had the hearty sympathy of the 
Governor, who always felt that the course taken by 
General Carr, (under General Curtis,) was an unpar- 
donable outrage. 

The weeks passed by the Regiment at New Mad- 
rid were uneventful. From the time of the capture 
of the place by Gen. Pope it had been occupied by a 
small garrison, some heavy guns being mounted on the 
earthworks constructed by the rebels for command 
ing the Mississippi River. The occupation of the 
place appeared to be of importance in preventing the 
enemy from obstructing the River by a temporary 
raid from Arkansas, across the great swamp that 
was only to be passed at a few points; and also to 
prevent contraband trade. Some barracks had been 
constructed by the troops formerly in possession, 
consisting of rows of shanties lightly boarded up, and 
covered with shingles split from logs obtained in the 
adjacent forests. The people of the village and the 



76 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

neighboring 1 farms had a few swine in a semi-wild 
condition, that the soldiers regarded as game, and 
from which they occasionally secured a very welcome 
change of diet: — in violation of orders, of course! 

As illustrating the duties involved in this particu- 
lar service, and showing the surrounding conditions, 
attention is called to the following report: 
Headquarters Thirty-second Iowa Infantry, 
New Madrid, Mo., December 6, 18132. 
Brig. Gen. E. A. Carr, 

St. Louis, Mo., Commandhig Southeaster)! Mo. 

General: Under your orders. I left Saint Louis 
on the 25th ultimo with part of my regiment, and 
stopped over at Cape Girardeau from the evening of 
the 26th ultimo until the morning of the 1st instant, 
arranging the companies left there. Maj. G. A. 
Eberhart, of the Thirty-Second Iowa, comm»nds that 
post. Lieutenant Bannon is provost- marshal. 

I found a state of affairs there that in some re- 
spects was unsatisfactory. The Germans as a class 
and some few others are fully loyal. The loyal citi- 
zens of that place and vicinity are much dissatisfied 
with the appointment of General Stockton over the 
Enrolled Missouri Militia of that district. I think 
they will never acquiesce, nor do I believe he will 
ever aid the Government or really sustain it. I had 
no intercourse with him, and am reliably informed 
that he has not usually called on parties commanding 
loyal troops. I look upon his appoinment as very 
injudicious. What bad results may follow remains 
for the future to show. 

I arrived at this point on the evening of the 3d 
instant. I have endeavored to inform myself respect 
ing the state of affairs in this section. I have al- 
ready learned that, with the exception of Captain 
Moore's company of Illinois Cavalry, the troops here 
have been and still are quite popular with the rebels. 
Matters ac this post have gone at loose ends to a de- 
gree that rendered our troops quite a convenience to 
the rebels. There has been quite a trade in contra- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. i I 

band stores from this point to the country west of 
"the swamps," and much of it to Arkansas. 

On the 4th instant I stooped several teams bound 
to Gainesville, Ark., and each carrying from two to 
four barrels of salt. I am informed that certain 
parties have made regular trips, This state of affairs 
could only have occurred through the connivance of 
the commander of the post, or at least through great 
negligence, 

I have appointed First Lieut. A. Converse, of 
Thirty -second Iowa, provost-marshal for this place, 
I have no fears that contraband trade will be carried 
on under his eye. 

I learn that the rebels are now preparing to car- 
ry off large numbers of fat hogs from the counties of 
Stoddard and Dunklin. If I had 100 mounted men, I 
could send an infantry force as a nucleus, and could 
gather in much of this stock, thus distressing our ene- 
my and obtaining supplies for the Government. I 
will perhaps do so, or attempt it, as it is, at the 
earliest practicable moment. 

It strikes me that an active force could occupy a 
central position near Chalk Bluff, on the Saint Fran- 
cis, and save the counties of Stoddard, Scott, Mississ- 
ippi, New Madrid, C;ipe Girardeau, and nearly all of 
Dunklin and Pemiscot from the ravages of the rebels. 
An important advantage would be that they would 
draw most of their subsistence from disloyal men. 

It is said that Jeff. Thompson was at Four Mile, 
Dunklin County, eight days since, and made a 
speech to his followers. He is represented as being 
now without a command, and on a stealing expedi- 
tion. 

As far as I can learn, the settlers out through 
and beyond the swamp are more of them loyal than 
in this section. 

This statement embodies the material facts in 
my possession. I might add that, only for the delay 
in removing the troops from this place to No. 10, the 
rebels would most likely have been in possession. I 



78 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

learn that they were counting- on such a state of facts. 
Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, 

JOHN SCOTT, 
Colonel Thirty -second Ioiva Infantry, Commanding Post. 



During- the occupation of New Madrid, Lieut. 
Converse administered as Provost Marshal, with an 
office in the village, and imposed and enforced due 
and proper limitations upon traffic with the neigh- 
boring country and the region beyond the .swamp. 
This was the principal object of the occupation of 
the Post, and for this duty the Thirty-second Iowa 
was detailed. Part of the service consisted in mak- 
ing trips to Cape Girardeau, and return, on a small 
steamer that was attached to the command for that 
purpose, and taking note of any suspicious circum- 
stances indicating contraband trade. 

On December 17th, Colonel Scott sent Captain 
Peebles across the swamp, to the borders of Arkan- 
sas, for the double purpose of intimidating the gueril- 
la bands and obtaining information. The manner in 
which this duty was performed by that most meritori- 
ous officer is told in the subjoined Report: 

Headquarters, 
New Madrid, Mo., December 22, 1862. 

I have the honor to submit the following report 
of the operations of the forces under my command in 
the late expedition to Clarkton, Mo. : 

The command consisted of Captain [J.] Hutchin- 
son, Second Lieutenant [A.] Dowd. and 40 men of 
Company I; First Lieutenant [H. C] Raymond, and 
57 men of Company C; Chaplain Coffin, and Surgeon 
Waters. The command left New Madrid at about 8 
a. m. December 17, and went as far as VVeaversville, 
a distance of 22 miles, the first day. Little River, at 
this place, is from two to five feet deep at the ford, 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 79 

the bridge having 1 been destroyed some time since. by 
order of Major Jones, then in command at New Mad- 
rid; the width of the ford is some 5 rods. We were 
obliged to ferry the men across in a small skiff. The 
roads, notwithstanding the recent heavy rains, were 
in excellent condition to this point. The Plank road 
begins at Weaversville and runs to Clarkton, a dis- 
tance of 12 miles, through a swamp. 

At daylight on the 18th, we continued our march, 
and arrived at Clarkton the same evening. We found 
the roads almost impassable; culverts, to the number 
of some 20, had all been destroyed, and the teams 
were obliged to pass around them, going down the 
bank into the water and mud to the depth of from 3 
to 5 feet. The bridge across New River, 4 miles 
from Clarkton, we also found destroyed, and we were 
compelled to cross in the small skiff which we had 
brought from Weaversville. The horses and teams 
were obliged to ford a distance of 200 yards. The 
bridges and culverts could be repaired at small ex- 
pense, as the foundation works are in very good con- 
dition. We halted about 1 mile from Clarkton, and 
rested until after dark, keeping close guard that no 
one should carry intelligence of our approach. Soon 
after dark, we marched into town, and immediately 
surrounded every house, placed our pickets on all the 
avenues of approach, and commenced our search for 
prisoners. Captain McDonald was found at the house 

of , and arrested. Learning that Captain Pan 

key was at home on a furlough, Captain Hutchinson 
was dispatched with a detachment of men, and soon 
returned with him as prisoner. 

On the following morning three expeditions were 
organized— one of 15 men, under command of Chap_- 
lain Coffin, who went south toward Kennett, some o 
miles, and took prisoner Quartermaster-Sergeant Se- 
becker; he also secured several valuable horses be- 
longing to rebels. One detachment of 15 men, under 
command of Captain Hutchinson, went north from 
Clarkton, and returned with Captain Page and one 
Montgomery and his son Lentz, as prisoners, all ol 
whom" were* entra^cd in the guerrilla service; he also 
took seveial valuable horses. Another detachment 



80 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

of 15 horsemen, under command of Captain Peebles, 
went to Halkolm's Island and to the Saint Francis 
River, to the Arkansas border. The last mentioned 
detachment took Surgeon Bartlett and considerable 
rebel property. We could hear of depredations com- 
mitted by small bands of guerrillas, but we were un- 
able to meet any of them. I learned that a band of 
from 100 to 200 guerrillas were making their head- 
quarters at Chalk Bluff, on the Saint Francis River. 

Depredations are frequently committed by guer- 
rillas in the vicinity of Clarkton, and the perpetra- 
tors flee to Chalk Bluff, and thence across the river 
into Arkansas. A force stationed at the bluff would 
do much toward restoring quiet and safety to the law- 
abiding citizens of Southeastern Missouri. Many of 
the citizens claim to be loyal. 

The result of our expedition was the taking pris- 
oners of two captains, one surgeon, and one quarter- 
master-sergeant, all of the Regular Confederate 
Army; one captain and three privates in the guerril- 
la service. Besides the prisoners, we took fifteen 
horses, some valuable ones; one mule team, wagon, 
harness, &c. ; forty head of cattle, and several stand 
of small-arms. Could the expedition have been ab- 
sent several days longer, much additional good 
might have been accomplished. 

On the 20th we returned from Clarkton to Wea 
versville, and on the 21st arrived at New Madrid, all 
the men in better health and spirits than when they 
started. 

I would make honorable mention of Captain 
Hutchinson. Chaplain Coffin, Lieutenants Raymond 
and Dowd for the prompt and faithful manner in 
which they discharged the duties devolving upon 
them. 

I am glad to bear witness that every man in the 
command acted throughout as becomes a patriot sol- 
dier battling for a just cause. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

H. F. PEEBLES. 
Captain Company C, Commanding. 
Col. John Scott, 
Comdg. Thirty -second Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 



81 



During one of the to and from Cape Girardeau 
voyages, made by Col. Scott in person, at a time 
when the air was full of rumors, and -'the grapevine 
telegraph" was in active operation, the boat stopped 
at Columbus, Kentucky, to report to the officer of 
the Port, which was required of all passing vessels. 
Without any expectation that his call upon Gen. 
Davies would be other than one of courtesy, Col. 
Scott presented himself at the General's Head 
Quarters. He found General Fisk, from St. Louis, 
and also General Tuttle, of Iowa, closeted with Gen- 
eral Davies, and the latter in a state of excitement 
that seemed hardly justified by any facts that could 
be known to him. He claimed that he had reliable 
advices that the enemy in large force was concentrat- 
ing from several directions upon the Mississippi Riv- 
er. He eagerly inquired as to the conditions in South- 
east Missouri and the adjacant region in Arkansas. 
Nothing alarming was reported in that direction. 
This appeared to confirm General Davies in the be 
lief that the Thirty-Second Iowa should be forthwith 
thrown into Ft, Pillow as a reinforcement, to aid in 
repelling the threatened attack on that important 

point, 

He thereupon handed Colonel Scott the follow- 
ing written order: 

Headquarters District of Columbus, 

Columbus, Ky., December 27, 1862, 
Col. Scott, 

New Madrid, Mo., Commanding 82nd Intra. 

You will immediately proceed to New Madrid, 
burn the gun carriages aud wooden platforms, spike 
the guns and destroy the ammunition totally; take 



82 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

the same boat and proceed to Fort Pillow, under eon 
voy of Gun Boat, and report to Colonel Wolfe, Com- 
manding' that place. 

[Signed] Thomas A. Davies, 

Brigadier General. 

On the receipt of this astounding order. Colonel 
Scott questioned Gen. Davies' right to give it. He 
was assured that he (Davies) had express authority 
from Gen. Curtis to use in emergency forces in the 
contiguous part of the Department of Missouri, and 
directed his Adjutant General to produce the tele- 
gram to that effect. Failing to find the document 
Davies appealed to Gen. Fisk, who was temporarily 
at Columbus because of the supposed emergency, in 
command of troops that belonged to Gen. Curtis' 
Department. Gen. Fisk assented to a knowledge of 
the suggested facts. Colonel Scott further conferred 
with General Tuttle on the subject, and was advised 
that there was nothing to be done but to obey the 
order, which was ample authority. 

The following is an extract from the testimony 
of General Tuttle, as taken before the Commission 
of Inquiry afterwards appointed: 

"During the time that Columbus was threatened, 
Colonel Scott, of the 32nd Iowa,stopped at Columbus 
on his way from Cape Girardeau to New Madrid. 
During a consultation in which were present Gen. 
Davies, Gen. Fisk, Col. Scott and myself, the Colonel 
expressed great confidence that he could hold New 
Madrid against whatever force might be supposed to 
threaten it. He said Gen. Davies was about to order 
him to evacuate, and wanted my opinion as to wheth- 
er he must obey the order, which he did not wish to 
do. I told him that Gen. Davies had a telegram 
from Gen. Curtis conferring on Davies authority over 
a portion of Gen. Curtis' troops, and before disobey- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. US 

ing such an order be had better be certain about 
Davies' authority over him. We called in Gen.Fisk, 
and Col. Scott asked his opinion. Gen. Fisk went 
to Gen. Davies, and, as I supposed, saw the telegram; 
came back and told Col. Scott there was no doubt 
about Gen. Davies having authority to give the or- 
der. Col. Scott protested against the evacuation, 
but on advice from Gen. Fisk and myself he thought 
better of it and said he would obey it." 

Arriving at New Madrid in the evening the Staff 
officers and Captains of Companies were called to- 
gether, the order was shown, and the extraordinary 
circumstances explained. On the following morning 
the order was carried out in detail, and the Regiment 
proceeded to Fort Pillow. By a thoughtless and 
careless act of one of the men the shanty barracks 
were partly burned. The fire was said to have been 
started by some one throwing some barrels and 
cracker boxes in the fire place of one of the barracks. 
This added materially to the feelings of disgust felt 
by the Regiment, not so much over the removal to 
Fort Pillow as the apparent wanton destruction of 
property. And when Fort Pillow w T as reached and 
the apprehended attack thereon was found to be a 
false alarm, "a scare" of the one man who assumed 
responsibility for the movement, disgust was follow- 
ed very closely by something bordering on indigna- 
tion. 

One of the incidents of the evacuation was the 
disposal of the terrified contrabands. Quite a num- 
ber of negroes from the adjacent country had found 
their way to the house of refuge, and had fully made 
up their minds that they preferred freedom to the 
comparatively mild administration of human slavery 



84 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

as it existed even in the border states. Among- these 
were the numerous members of the family of Anthony, 
lately of the House of Waller. Anthony was a relia- 
ble servant, and no doubt the general manager of the 
Waller interests on the plantation, during the ab- 
sence of the male whites of that name, in search of 
their rights, through secession. 

Among the children was a boy of ten or twelve 
years, named John. Probably very few of the com- 
rades have any remembrance of the members of this 
colored family, who, with others, were furnished 
transportation to Central Iowa. It may interest them 
to know that the boy, John, is the identical Hon. 
JohnL. Waller, late Presidential Elector from Kan- 
sas; later, United States Consul in Madagascar; and 
at present, November 1895, enjoying the hospitality 
of a French Prison, under a twenty-years sentence 
of a Military Court, for a political offence. 



CHAPTER XII. 



Investigating The Evacuation. 

On reaching Port Pillow and finding that there 
remained nothing- to be done except to make the regi- 
ment as comfortable as circumstances would permit, 
the Colonel wrote the following letter to General 
Curtis: 

Fort Pillow, January 1, 1863. 

General: On the 27th ultimo, I received oiders 
to destroy public property and remove the detach- 
ment to Fort Pillow. On the 28th this w T as accom- 
plished. I was much disappointed, and feared you 
would be also; but the order was peremptory from 
General Davies, and General Fisk informed me that 
General Davies had authority from you. 

The detachment is now here. As far as I can 
see, we are of no use here. There is no artillery 
and the works are much extended. With a ftw 
pieces the place might be held against a large force. 
As it is, an attack from a largely superior force 
would be fatal. I know, of course, nothing of the 
policy that sent me here in such haste. I do know, 
however, that my regiment is divided, aiid that I 
would be pleased to have it united. 

When at New Madrid and Cape Girardeau, I felt 
that the detached parts were in the same neighbor- 
hood; now we are certainly not neighbors, and are 
embarrassed by being in two departments. It is not 
my place to suggest either the when or the where, 
but only my wish, that, if consistent with the public 
service, it would be remembered as a kindness, could 
we again be brought together. 

JOHN SCOTT, 
Co'onel Thirty -second Towa Infantry. 
Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, 

Saint Lou is, Mc 



86 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

To this Curtis made no reply; asked no explana- 
tions; but endorsed the letter as follows: 

Saint Louis, Mo., 
January 5, 1863. 

The abandonment of Fort Pillow, must be pun- 
ished. General Carr reports that he communicated 
different orders to Colonel Scott. He should have 
obeyed Carr, not Davies, and must be arrested. 

SAML. R. CURTIS, 

Major General. 

It is seen by this that on Jan. 5, Curtis was not 
able to distinguish between New Madrid and Port 
Pillow. 

From Gen. Curtis' letter of January 2nd to Col. 
Chipman he seems by that time to have obtained a 
fair idea of the situation, and the proper responsibili- 
ty for it. He says: "The General's whole line 
seems to have been left in a crazy kind of style, and 
General Davies seems to have been quite possessed." 
On the 3rd he wrote Gen. Halleck, General-in-Chief 
of the Army: "General Grant has ordered all my 
force now at Columbus to Memphis. This strips 
the country about Cairo and New Madrid, leaving- no 
reserve in this region. General Davies has stripped 
everything, got all I could spare for temporary pur- 
poses, taken my garrison from New Madrid, and 
then stopped a regiment I sent to resume New Mad- 
rid. Please check matters. At Columbus they need 
something." 

The reference to his "force now at Columbus" 
means the command of General Fisk, Fisk had ad- 
vised Curtis of Davies questionable acts, including 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 87 

his order for the evacuation of New Madrid; all this 
before January 3rd. 

On January 5th General Carr wrote General 
Curtis: 

Headquarters Saint Louis District, 

Saint Louis, January 5, 1863. 

Maj. H. Z. Curtis, 

A. A. G. Hdqrs. Dept. of the Missouri, St. Louis, Mo.: 

Sir: From all I can learn, I believe that the 
post of New Madrid, in my district, was abandoned 
without any cause whatever, and to the great detri- 
ment of the public interest, in the destruction of a 
large amount of valuable property, and in giving the 
rebels an opportunity to take possession of the works 
and interrupt our river communication. 

It appears that, upon the report of Colonel Scott, 
General Davies ordered the evacuation, thus assum- 
ing control of troops in my district and in the Depart- 
ment of the Missouri, and not only assuming aut.hori 
ty not his, but assuming and exercising the same to 
the trreat detriment of the public service. 

I had stripped my district of troops to re -enforce 
General Davies at Columbus; and at the time New 
Madrid was evacuated the pressing emergency at 
Columbus had nearly passed, and he could have re- 
turned the favor by re-enforcing my post, which 
there would have been time enough to do even after 
an attack had commenced, as Colonel Scott had six 
companies and seven heavy guns. 

Colonel Scott, in obeying the orders of General 
Davies, acted contrary to all military rules and dis- 
cipline, as be was under my command, in so doing 
he acted as I believe, also contrary to the public in- 
terest and in a shameful and cowardly manner. 

I hud been lately in communication with him by 
telegraph, and had ordered him "to make everything 
secure" at New Madrid, and advised him that it was 
an "important place to keep." 

Colonel Scott has deserted the limits of my com- 



88 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

mand with his whole force. 

I would, therefore, respectfully recommend to 
the major-general commanding- that he recommend 
to the General-in- Chief to cause the arrest of Gener- 
al Davies and Colonel Scott and have them held for 
trial. 

I will make out the formal charges as soon as I 
can obtain the exact dates, amount of property des- 
troyed, &c. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

E. A. CARR, 
Brigadier -General, Commanding. 

On this letter — on same date — ; the Headquarters 
of Carr and Curtis being at same place, Curtis made 
this indorsement: 

Saint Louis, January 5, 1863. 

Respectfully referred to headquarters, Washing- 
ton, 

So far as General Davies is concerned, he made 
the proper report to me, and I have expressed my 
regrets to him. His apprehensions induced the or- 
der, and his immediate commander will be the pro- 
per officer to determine whether further action should 
be taken. 

Colonel Scott should be arrested for neglecting 
orders which I directed General Carr to communi- 
cate to him, and sent with his command back to my 
department to answer in the premises. 

SAML. R. CURTIS, 

Major -General. 

And on the same date, but at Columbus, Ky. T 
General Fisk wrote General Curtis the following ex- 
planation of the facts; but Curtis would not receive 
the letter until the following day. This should have 
so fully advised Curtis that instead of annoying 
Colonel Scott with a further foolish pursuit he should 



TOW A VOLUNTEEKS 8 ( J 

have turned his attention to the interests of the pub- 
lic service. 

Extract from letter of Pisk to Curtis, Jan. 5, 
1863: 

I forward to you by this mail a letter from Col. 
Hughes, announcinj; his arrival at and occupation of 
New Madrid. I don't regard him in any danger of 
an attack. If a company of cavalry, with two how- 
itzers, could be sent to New Madrid, and Colonel 
Scott ordered back there from Fort Pillow, Colonel 
HuH-hes' entire regiment might be relieved and pro- 
ceed down stream. Colonel Scott was here in per- 
son when General Davies ordered him to abandon 
New Madrid and destroy the works. Colonel Scott 
questioned the authority of General Davies to make 
such an order, when General Davies informed him 
that he had your order to command the force at New 
Madrid, as also that of Colonel Chipman, chief of 
.staff. Colonel Scott was opposed to the evacuation; 
no one favored it but General Davies. Consultation 
with me was simply a statement to me that the post 
must be abandoned and the force ordered to Fort 
Pillow. General Davies thought he had reliable in- 
formation that Van Dorn. with an immense force, 
was marching on Fort Pillow, and that Jeff Thomp- 
son and Jeffers with their consolidated hordes of 
rebels, wetv in close proximity to New Madrid and 
Island No 10; that the plan was to seize the guns at 
these several points and blockade the Mississippi 
"River. General Tnttle and myself were both oppos- 
ed to i he abandonment, blowing up, and spiking pro- 
position. I had all I could do to convince General 
Davies that it was madness to abandon Paducah even; 
his dispatches to Colonel Dougherty ordering him to 
inve up Paducah were written when General Tuttle 
and mvself were advised of his intentions. General 
HalleeVs dispatches to General Davies. three in num- 
ber, were definite and imperative to hold this post at 
all hazards, and allow no movement to be made that 
would in the least endanger the Mississippi between 
Cairo and Memphis. I have not believed that Co- 



[)0 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Iambus was in real danger at any time, although had 
you not thus promptly re-enforced it, it would have 
been given up. [t has been an unpleasant episode in 
my military history, but I have obeyed orders. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

CLINTON B. FISK, 

Brigadier- Gene nil of Volunteers. 

On January 7th, General Curtis wrote Fisk a let- 
ter in which he says: 

"Scott's forces ou^ht to go back. They have 
learned something of the country. Carr reports 
Scott as having disobeyed orders and behaved cow- 
ardly, and demands his arrest. Scott says you wrote 
him I would approve. The thing looks as though he 
sought orders conflicting with those I directed Gen- 
eral Carr to give him, and therefore went to Colum- 
bus instead of going to New Madrid from Cape Girar- 
deau." 

On January 9th, Fisk wrote Curtis from his com 
mand, on his boat, near Memphis, and says: 

"I stopped at Island No. 10. Saw the destruc- 
tion which had been worked, and had a conference 
with Major Jones, commanding. Visited Colonel 
Hughes at New Madrid, which post can be well cared 
for by Colonel Scott's six companies, now at Fort 
Pillow. Called at Fort Pillow this morning to see 
Colonel Scott; found he was at Saint Louis. My plan 
was to send a steamer from Memphis to remove his 
command to New Madrid, and return with Colonel 
Hughes' regiment to Helena; but. as you will doubt- 
less see and order Colonel Scott, I advised Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Mix to make no move until Colonel Scott 
should return." 

Meantime Colonel Scott went to Cape Girardeau 
to look after some matters in the four Companies 
there under Major Eberhart; reported his presence 

there to General Carr, at Saint Ljuis, and was met 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 91 

by an order of arrest from General Carr. Supposing 
that the circumstances were not understood, and that 
when explained by General Davies the order of ar- 
rest would be countermanded, Scott wrote Davies 
requesting him to advise Gen. Carr in the premises. 
This was done by General Davies, as follows: 

Columbus, January 12, 1864, 

Brigadier-General Carr, 

Sainf Lun is. Mo. 

Sir: I hear you have placed Colonel Scott un- 
der arrest for evacuating New Madrid. 

The circumstances of the case were these: Col. 
Scott happened to be in Columbus during the excite- 
ment along the river, and information, such as was 
supposed reliable, reached here that New Madrid 
was threatened by a very large (force) under Thomp- 
son and Jeffers; that Port Pillow was in like manner 
threatened, as was true, by Van Dorn. 

I called General Tuttle and General Fisk to my 
office, and we carefully looked over the ground, and 
agreed that the force at New Madrid was insufficient 
to stand a heavy attack, and the six pieces (sie^e 
guns i then in position, if they fell into the hands of 
the enemy, would, in the present position of the 
army below, prove almost fatal to us, we having no 
gunboats or forces to displace them immediately. 

As a precaution, which we deemed bound to take 
it was determined to evacuate New Madrid and 
cripple the armament and re-enforce Port Pillow. I 
had great hesitancy in giving the order, the troops 
not beinir under my command; but on the assurance 
of General Fisk that it would be all right, and that 
General Curtis would approve of it (not knowing 
that yon commanded the district, ) I gave the order 
to Colonel Scott to evacuate New Madrid, spike the 
aruns with soft iron, and destroy the ammunition, 
which I understand, was done. 

T took the ground we would beblamabie to allow 
any chance, however remote, 10 be embraced by the 



92 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

enemy to capture any heavy ordinance on the river 
at this particular juncture. 

I think the position is a correct one, and I hope 
this explanation will relieve Colonel Scott, at least, 
from any blame. We acted according to our best 
judgment in the premises. 

lam, general, very respectfully, 

THOS. A. DAVIES, 

Brigadier -General, Commanding. 

Columbus, Ky., January 15, 1863. 
Brigadier-General Carr, 
Saint Louis. Mo., 

General: On the 12th of January I wrote you 
a communication respecting the evacuation of New 
Madrid, and, as dispatches sometimes miscarry, I 
send you duplicate. 

I have to add that the telegram to General Cur- 
tis, in the following words, needs some explanation: 

Colonel Scott pends me back word today that Jeff Thompson and Jeffers 
were within 10 miles of him with aforce; that he could not have held the 
place. 

Colonel Scott has since told me that he did not 
send me such a message, which is. no doubt, true. 
It was brought to me by the captain of the steamer 
O'Brien, a boat owned by Government, who was at 
Island 10 the morning of the evacuation, who said 
that it was a verbal message from Colonel Scott. The 
boat is now at New Madrid delivering supplies, and. 
when the captain returns, will investigate the source 
of information and send you a statement. The only 
point in the affair where Colonel Scott is in fault, it 
seems to me, wa-i in not reporting to you the order; 
but I am sure, from the little knowledge I have of 
him, that such failure was owing to neglect of mili- 
tary rule. I reported the order to Major-General 
Curtis, not knowing that you was his immediate com- 
manding officer. 

The extent of property destroyed was six secesh 
gun carriages and platforms and some secesh ammu- 
nition, which, I was informed, had just been sent 



TOW A VOLUNTEERS 93 

there from Island No. 10. The siege guns can be un- 
spiked by a few hours' work. 

There is any quantity of gun carriages lying 
about Columbus and at Island 10, which I can send 
you to New Madrid if you desire at any time to re- 
move the siege guns at that place 

I also inclose you a copy of my order to Colonel 
Scott. 

I am, general, very respectfully, 

thos.'a. davies. 

Brigadier- General, Commanding. 

When the order of arrest had nearly expired by 
limitation (ten days) it was renewed; and similarly it 
was renewed a second time, without any charges be- 
in^ preferred by Gen. Carr. Finally, after vigorous 
and emphatic remonstrances from the accused 
against this unjust persecution, Gen. Carr preferred 
charges. Instead of ordering a military court to in- 
vestigate these charges a Special Commission was 
constituted to "investigate and report upon the facts 
of the destruction of the ordnance and ordnance 
stores at New Madrid, * * and as to the culpa- 
bility of the officer or officers responsible, and wheth- 
er or not he or they should be dismissed the service 
of the United States." 

It is due Gen. Davies to state that under oath, in 
the presence of the Commission, he assumed all re- 
sponsibility for the matters investigated, and showed 
telegrams giving color to his claims of having 
authority from Gen. Curtis to issue the order of evac- 
uation. After a weary investigation the Commission 
reported the findings, Feb 26, as follows: 

The Commission, after mature deliberation, find 
the following facts: 

That on the 28th day of December. A. D. 1862, 
six iron siege guns were spiked at New Madrid, Mo.; 



14 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

six gun carriages and platforms were burned, and a 
quantity of ammunition destroyed. The loss to the 
Government, aside from the loss of the ammunition, 
the value of which is not ascertained, was about ^350 
or |450. A set of barracks were on the same day 
burned at New Madrid, but this was purely the re- 
sult of an accident. No other Government property 
was destroyed. 

The ordnance and ordnance stores above men- 
tioned were destroyed by men of the garrison of New 
Madrid, under above command of Col. John Scott, 
of the Thirty-second Regiment Iowa Volunteer In- 
fantry, commanding post. This was done by virtue 
of an order which Colonel Scott received from Brig. 
Gen. Thomas A. Davies, commanding District of Co- 
lumbus; and although Colonel Scott was not under 
the direct command of Brigadier General Davies, he 
did right under the circumstances in obeying Briga- 
dier-General Davies' order, and not only did his duty, 
but is honorably acquitted of all blame. 

Brig, Geu. Thomas A. Davies. U. S. Volunteers, 
commanding at that time the District of Columbus, 
gave Colonel John Scott the order, and is responsi- 
ble for it. The post at Columbus, he had good rea- 
son to suppose, was in imminent danger of capture 
by the forces, and he acted the part of a prudent and 
faithful officer in crippling the armament at New 
Madrid, Mo., and removing the Unite:! States troops 
from that place to Fort Pillow. He is not only free 
from culpability, but is honorably acquitted of ail 
blame. 

Neither Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Davies, U. S. 
Volunteers, nor Col. John Scott. Thirty-seoond Regi- 
ment of Iowa Volunteers, should be dismissed the 
service of the United States. 

There being no further business to transact, the 
Special Commission adjourned sine die 

\VM. K. STRONG, 
Brigadier- General. U. S. Volunteers. President. 
Albert G. Brackett, Col. Ninth III. Cavalry, Recorder. 
Findings approved. 

SAML. R. CURTIS. 

Major- General. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 95 

Following this action Colonel Scott was ordered 
on duty with the Regiment; the action of the Com- 
mission was not officially given out; and during all 
this time the unfounded charges of Gen. Carr had 
been widely published in the Associate Press de- 
spatches, in the special correspondence of the Jour- 
nals, and by correspondents of other papers, many 
of them in Iowa, emanating from the Head Quarters 
of Gen. Carr and General Curtis. These slanderous 
charges and innuendoes went far and wide, and while 
they can never be overtaken by plain facts in the 
case, it is but a matter of justice that the truth be re- 
corded here, and shown by testimony taken at the 
time. 

After repeated anil vain attempts to obtain an 
authorized promulgation of the results of the inves- 
tigation the following correspondence took place, 
and a complete copy of the record of the Commission 
was obtained in June, 1864, sixteen months after the 
Commission was discharged: 

Headquarters Post of Columbus, 

Columbus, Ky., September 1, 1863. 

Coloneu: A Military Commission, of which 
Brig. Gen. W. K. Strong was president, was conven- 
ed in Saint Louis in February last, by order of Major 
G meral Halleck. to investigate as to the evacuation 
of New Madrid and destruction of property there and 
at Island No. 10. 

Grave charges were preferred against me, as 
commanding officer, for the evacuation of New Mad- 
rid, under alleged "pretended orders," and I was in 
arrest for two months. On the finding of that Com- 
mission. I was ordered to duty by General Curtis, 
but the finding was not made public, nor has been to 
this time, to my knowledge. 

Feeling that my arrest was an outrage, and that 



96 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

the Commission fully justified my action, I deem my- 
self entitled to a copy of the finding. I have applied 
for it heretofore in vain. 

I respectfully ask that the major-general com- 
manding the department will secure me a copy of the 
finding of said Commission. 

Your most obedient servant, 

JOHN SCOTT, 
Colonel Thirty- second Iowa Infantry, Commanding Post. 
Col. John A. Rawlins, Assistant Adjutant-General. 

Indorsements. 

Headquarters Department of Tennessee, 

Vicksburg, Miss., September 14, 1863. 

Respectfully forwarded to Headquarters of the 
Army, Washington, D. C, with the request that, if 
deemed proper, Colonel Scott be furnished with a 
copy of such part of the proceedings as interest him, 

U. S. GRANT, 
Major- General. 

October 3, 1863. 

I see no objection to the Adjutant-General fur- 
nishing Colonel Scott with the opinion of the court 
of inquiry in his case 

H. W. HALLECK, 

General-in-i 'hief. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



At Fort Pillow. 

On January 3d, 1863, General W. A. Gorman 
wrote from Helena, when* he was in command, three 
letters to General Curtis. The first two treat of 
movements of troops, and discuss the military situa- 
tion. The third is suggestive in several respects, 
and bears upon the duties required of officers in 
charge of Posts upon the Mississippi River, and the 
manner in which these duties were discharged at this 
particular time. The letter is marked "private." 
Why should such a letter be regarded by the writer 
as a personal one, and to be considered confidential? 
If private, how came it to be published in the official 
"Records? 

T he-effects of "this rage for cotton speculation* 1 
were felt everywhere. A loyal and incorruptible officer 
was surrounded by spies and enemies, and was liable 
to be underminded both in his own household and at 
the office of his commander. The division of profits in 
these illegitimate speculations was demoralizing in 
the extreme, and did much, no doubt, to color the 
stories of correspondents which went broadcast, and 
had much influence on the conduct of the war, and 
on the reputation of officers and soldiers. Perhaps 
no Regiment in the service suffered more from these 
cowardly attacks and jealousies than did the Thirty- 
second Iowa. Among the disloyal and dishonest both 
within and without our army this was known as the 
"Abolition Regiment." The epithet is one, however 
malignantly spoken at that time, and emphasized by 



98 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

profane expletives, in. which we may ?wiv feel an hon- 
est pride. But at that time it had its inconveniences, 
especially when, as was often the case, it was great- 
ly in the minority. 

Perhaps in all this we may see very good reason 
for the precaution taken by General Gorman in mark- 
ing this letter "private": 

Private.] Hdqrs. District of Eastern Ark. 

Helena, January 3, 1863. 
Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis: 

General: Allow me to devote one letter to 
cotton and commerce. This river from here to Mem- 
phis is lined with cotton speculators. The people of 
Mississippi and Arkansas are being supplied with 
salt, flour, pork, bacon, coffee, quinine, shoes, hoots, 
hats, caps, shirts, drawers, socks, whisky, mackerel, 
cheese, and a thousand and one other such tilings. all 
of which are cleared and permitted by Mr. Yeatman, 
special agent of the Treasury Department, at Mem- 
phis, six- tenths of which pass into the hands of the 
public enemy. 

These things don't come here by stint, but by 
hundreds and thousands of barrels, boxes, casks, and 
packages. One single boat landed here day before 
yesterday with 100 barrels of whiskey and 35 bottles 
of quinine. The blockade of the Atlantic coast has 
no terrors for rebels. Prom here to Memphis, guer- 
rillas line the shore, and are as familiar with traders 
as if they had sent for their goods. Without a cor- 
rective is soon applied to their shipments from Mem- 
phis, the public enemy will be as well supplied with 
all the necessaries of life as the citizens of the loyal 
States. The guerrillas act as commissaries to the in 
terior. This may be the policy of the Government, 
but, if so, we are feeding them with one hand and 
fighting them with the other. 

I will copy and forward you a few of the mani- 
fests permitted and cleared from the Board of Trade 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 99 

and Mr. Yeatman, special agent of the Treasury De- 
partment, and in some cases permitted and cleared 
by the Treasury officers in Saint Louis. Tf these 
contraband articles came here only in small quanti- 
ties, and to special families, it might not be so obnox- 
ious. But until this river is clear of the public ene- 
my, I would not allow them a pound of meat or a 
stitch of clothing, until the well disposed portion of 
the population would guarantee protection to trade; 
but if col ton and commerce are kings all subjects 
must obey. 

The rage for cotton speculation seriously embar- 
rasses all military operations in this region. The 
trading boats land men at all the ports, and send 
them as runners through the enemy's country to hunt 
up and drum up cotton. The loyalty of such runners 
cannot be relied upon; every movement of the army 
i.s known and spread by them over the enemy's coun- 
try. While there, they tell all about our army, to 
protect themselves from arrest. and avow themselves 
•the best of Southern men; when thry return, they lell 
all about the rebel army, and avow themselves the 
best of Union men; and thus they are spies in adouble 
sense. Every facility ought to be given by the Gov- 
ernment to yet out the cotton in exchange for money, 
except gold. Provisions and family supplies ought 
to be given for wood only, as it is highly important 
to our army transportation. 

Write me privately on this subject. 

I am, general, very respectfully, your obed 
ient servant, 

W. A. GORMAN. 



Fort Pillow is a nice location for a camp. It is 
situated on the East bank of the Mississippi, on a 
series of bluffs that overlook the stream, all being 
before it was arranged for the troops covered with 
heavy timber. The earth- works in the rear were 
not strong, but of considerable extent, and to fully 



100 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

occupy and defend them would require a force of sev- 
eral thousand troops. The place had been for some 
time occupied by Col. E. H, Wolfe, with the 52nd 
Indiana Infantry. The duties were not arduous, and 
though the Iowa Regiment materially increased his 
command there was no very warm welcome extend- 
ed them. In fact it was soon discovered that be- 
tween the officers and men of the two regiments there 
were radical differences of opinion as to the purposes 
and conduct of the war, and especially as to slavery, 
and the status of the negro. These differences were 
more often manifested by the enlisted men than by 
the officers. 

Arrangements were hastily made for quarters, 
for hospitals, for storing the supplies, etc., and a 
pleasant camp was the result. Captain Amos B. 
Miller, with Company B of the 32nd Iowa, was sent 
into camp at Fulton landing, about three miles down 
the river; but as there was daily communication this 
was regarded as being but an out post of the com- 
mand at Fort Pillow. 

The tedium of the camp was relieved to some 
extent by the hospitality of Judge Green, who lived 
on his plantation some three miles distant, and who 
occasionally invited members of the Field and Staff 
to vary camp fare by eatiug baked buffalo-iish and 
the accompaniments at his table. On a certain oc- 
casion it is said thai seme officers of the 32nd Iowa 
had their legs under the good Judge's mahogany 
when quite a number of very unwelcome visitors 
came unnoted to the place. The Judge requested 
his guests to remain seated; interviewed the strang- 
ers, who departed, "casting longing, lingering 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 101 

looks" upon a number of valuable steeds near the 
house! It was nicely clone. The Judge was a man 
of character, respected by all parties, and his home 
may be said to have been within the Union lines. 
These officers were his guests. They came at his in- 
vitation. His character as a host was at stake. If 
they were molested it might be thought that it was 
done by his consent. His remonstrance was effectual; 
and some very nervous fellows rode into cam]) in- 
stead of setting off on foot for rebel prisons, and at 
the almost certain penalty of being dismissed the ser- 
vice in disgrace! Due respect for the modesty of 
the participants in this "hair-breadth escape" sug : 
gests the withholding of the names, but some of 
them do now talk freely about that romantic adven- 
ture. 

Colonel Scott returned to the Regiment, at Port 
Pillow, March Kith and on that day certain negroes, 
refugees, were delivered to persons claiming them, 
and taken from the camp, bound. This caused such 
indignation among the members of the 32nd Iowa 
that measures were at once taken to have the parties 
brought back, which was accomplished by the morn- 
ing of the second day. 

There being no immediate prospect of removal 
from Port Pillow the Companies set about the re- 
moval of some abandoned cabins that had been dis- 
covered in the neighborhood, and removed them to 
the regimental camping ground, rebuilding them 
better than they had previously been, and occupying 
them as quarters. 

April, May, and the first half of June, passed un- 
eventfully in the quiet camp at Port Pillow. Al- 



102 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

though the place had the appearance of being rea- 
sonably exempt from malarious influences there was 
considerable sickness among- members of the Regi- 
ment, quite a number of cases proving fatal. The 
streams that entered the river near this point were 
sluggish, and those in the rear of the bluffs were of 
the same character, and the seeds of future attacks 
were here sown, which developed later, causing 
other deaths. 

Most of the duties were of the usual routine of 
such a camp; daily drill, attention to the subsistence 
and health of the men. and watching with anxiety 
the movements of the forces that were engaged more 
actively in the great Conflict. 

A ripple of excitement was felt on May 23d. 
when it was reported that a bright negro, a servant 
of one of the officers of the 52nd Indiana, had been 
waylaid and killed at the Hatchie Ferry, a few miles 
from our camp. Colonel AVolfe took no measures 
looking toward the punishment of the murderers; 
which it might not have been practicable to do even 
if he had wished. The soldiers from Iowa were al- 
ways ready, however, to espouse the cause of the 
loyal as against the disloyal, regardless of the color 
line. 



The following incidents are from the pen of Al- 
bert Trask, of Company C, (now an Attorney in Sa- 
ginaw, Mich.) and illustrate some of the lights an:l 
shadows of a soldier's life: 

Soon after our arrival at Fort Pillow Sergeant 
Cutter and twelve corporals and privates were post- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 103 

ed at the Pulton road picket-post. During the day 
they were outside the works at a point where the 
road from Fulton forked, one branch coining into the 
fort, and the other going on to Ripley; in the even- 
ing the men were drawn back to where the road to 
Fulton passed through the works, at which point 
they were very high, and the road passed 
through a square opening. 

During the night two men were kept at the open- 
ing in the works, and the plank across the outer 
ditch was taken up. One night, after it had been 
raining all day and the men were wet to the skin, 
and soon after they had established themselves at 
the works, it began to snow and turn cold. Two 
men were left on duty, and sergeant Cutter and the 
rest went a short distance into the interior of the 
fort, and made a log tire that contained at least a 
cord of wood. There was no chance for sleep for 
any one, because we were all so wet, and the muskets 
of all had been left where the two guards were post- 
ed to keep them dry. Soon after midnight, while all 
hands about the fire engaged in singing songs, we 
heard the. .sharp clear cry of both guards, "Halt! 
Halt!*' followed by the quick bang, bang, of both 
muskets. Immediately we were tumbling over one 
another to get to our guns, and when we reached the 
post w T e found both guards loading as fast as they 
could, and they reported that a body of cavalry had 
come up the road near to their post, and not stopping 
at 1 he order to halt they had tired, when they had 
wdieeled about and ran out of sight. 

Forthwith sergeantCutter ordered all the guards 
to bold themselves ready to resist the passage of the 
walls, and we staid there,our feet so wet that it seem- 
ed they must freeze. It was suggested that half re- 
main and half return to the fire, and change off every 
80 minutes, but the sergeant was inexorable. Final- 
ly after nearly freezing to death, and no further sign 
of the enemy appearing, a couple of the boys volun- 
teered to follow 1 out the road and see what they could 
find. 

After walking out to the point where the tracks 
showed the animals had turned and run, something 



104 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

induced one of the boys to feel in the tracks, and he 
found that they all parted the hoof. So that the at- 
tack had been made by cattle, and not horses, and as 
none of us had ever heard that Forest mounted his 
men that way we concluded it was a false alarm, and 
all but the two whose duty it was to stay went back 
to the fire and their songs. 



In April, 1863, Captain Moore, of the 2nd Illinois 
Cavalry, was ordered to take his Company, (which 
constitued the mounted force at Port Pillow, )and 100 
men from the 32nd Iowa and a like number from the 
52nd Indiana, and break up a recruiting station about 
20 miles East of Ft. Randolph, supposed to number 
about 700 men, and commanded by the rebel Colonel 
Faulkner. We all except the Cavalry went aboard a 
small steamer named the "Davenport," soon after 
dark, and at once dropped down the river about 17 
miles to the remains of Ft. Randolph, where we land- 
ed and began our twenty-mile march. 

Before day light we had reached the vicinity of 
the camp, which was located in a Methodist church, 
and a lot of sheds and outbuildings connected with 
the same, where, prior to the war, there used each 
year to be held camp meetings of that church. 

We halted about a mile from the buildings, to 
give the mounted men a chance to pass around the 
other side of the grounds, and just as the first gleam 
of daylight began to show in the East we started for 
the church. As soon as we came within about 60 
rods of the church we halted, and the detail from the 
52nd Indiana tired a volley from their Enfields into 
the church, and at the sound of the volley, the Cav- 
elry charged from one side and the detail from the 
32nd charged from the other, (the 52nd Indiana beirg 
held in reserve,) and we met around the buildings. 
We soon found that our catch wa^; pretty near a waler- 
haul, for owing to the facilities of the grape vine 
telegraph news of our starting had been carried to 
the camp early in the evening, and Faulkner and his 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 105 

band had decamped. There had been a squad out 
scouting, of <S men, and they and their horses were 
the extent of the capture. They had come in late in 
the night and finding all the rest gone went to bed, 
and were waked by the volley through the church, 
none of them, owing to the fact they were all sleep- 
ing on the floor, were hit by the balls, although the 
body of the church seemed pretty well riddled. 

We fired the buildings, and started on our re- 
turn to Ft. Pillow. All the boys had heard wonder- 
ful stories about the free and easy way that Capt. 
Frank Moore had of dealing with rebels and rebel 
property, and we had all anticipated a joyous time 
after the object of the expedition should be accom- 
plished, on our way back to the river, jay -hawking 
chickens and other dainties to eke out the rather 
limited bill of fare that Uncle Sam is w r ont to furnish 
his steady boarders. 

Judge then of our feelings, when, soon after we 
had started on our return, we were halted, and Capt. 
Moore made a little speech, in which he said we were 
not to fire a shot on our return, unless we were at- 
tacked. He said that Faulkner, with his whole gang, 
over two to our one, was hanging on our rear, watching 
for a chance to attack us. He said he and hisCaval 
ry would take the rear, and if he heard a single 
shot, he wished to know that it meant business. 

He evidently realized that this command was a 
great disappointment to us, for a close observer 
might have detected a merry twinkle in his eyes, as 
he observed our disappointed looks; and after a short 
pause, long enough to let the words strike home, he 
added, "But. boys, remember that clubs will kill, and 
if vou find anything that has'nt taken the oath, kill 
it.' 1 It is unnecessary to say that we all "twigged,' 
and by the time we reached the river it was very evi- 
dent that poultry, at least,had'nt taken the oath worth 
a cent in that region. We reached Ft. Pillow about 
sunset, having ridden 34 miles by boat and marched 
40 miles within 24 hours. 



On the 17th of June the Regiment received or- 



106 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

ders to remove to Columbus, Kentucky. On the 18th 
Companies C and K took boat for that place. The 
following day, at 6 a. m., the remaining Companies 
went on board the Steamer Nebraska, and were duly 
landed at the same destination. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



At Columbus, Ky. 



The Six Companies went into camp at Columbus. 
Ky., June 20th, 1863. This was a critical period in 
the war. The recent desperate assault upon the 
works at Vicksburg had been repulsed with heavy 
loss, and the enemy was making ready to cross the 
Potomac. Many thous«nds enrolled in our armies 
were skulking in the rear. The copper-head was 
hopeful. The rebel was defiant and aggressive. Un- 
der the circumstances it was little suited to the taste 
of the earnest soldiers of the 32nd Iowa to find them- 
selves at a distance from the points of greatest dan- 
ger. As yet they had hardly smelted powder, and 
many of them had aspirations to be tried in the fur- 
nace of hot conflict. They envied the comrades who 
were daily called into line by the long roll, and some 
of whose lives were almost hourly laid upon the 
altar. 

Although their duties were not at this point so 
full of danger nor so suggestive of the honors to be 
attained in deadly conflict, they were nevertheless 
the duties of the soldier, and these were imposed by 
orders that must be obeyed. The District of Colum- 
bus was under the command of General Asboth, and 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 107 

the Post was commanded by Col. Geo. E. Waring, af- 
terward noted as a progressive industrialist, author, 
civil-engineer, and health commissioner of the city 
of New York. 

In the discharge of essential duties at and near 
Columbus the Companies were still farther divided. 
Companies H and K were sent to the famous Island 
Number Ten. Companies B, E, and I, were quarter- 
ed in the town, at first under command of Lt. Col. 
Mix, and when he was detailed for duty on Court 
Martial, then under Captain Amos B. Miller, and 
had charge of the good order of the city, and the 
safety of the Military Prison. Company C. under 
Captain Peebles, became mounted infantry, and was 
attached to the Fourth Mo. Cavalry, under Colonel 
Waring, who was ordered on scouting duty in the 
adjacent country in Tennessee. These movements 
placed Colonel Scott of the 32nd Iowa, in command 
of the Post of Columbus, July 11th 1863. 



Prior to this date, and while Col. Waring com- 
manded the Post, the adjutant of the Fourth Mo. 
Cavalry acted as adjutant of the Post. He was a 
dapper little fellow of the order of Bantams, with 
plumage bright and gaudy, and known as being very 
strict in the observance of the many details in the 
'Army Regulations." Within a few days of the ar- 
rival of the 32nd Iowa a call was made for a detail of 
a Lieutenant and twenty-five sergeants, corporals 
and privates for guard duty. Comrade Albert Trask, 
of Company C, tells what follows: — 

We had previously been informed that the Post 
Adjutant was a great strickler for Regulations, and 



108 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

that everything" had to be just .so to pass muster -at 
guard mounting. We had not yet sent our 
dress coats home, and consequently they were brought 
forth, and a vast amount of elbow grease was ex- 
pended in burnishing our buttons, blacking our 
shoes, and furbishing up our equipment, so that 
when we were finally in line ready to march down to 
guard mounting we really thought we were '"quite 
swell." 

There, was one drawback however in the person 
of comrade James Speers whom all will remember as 
"the infant" of our Regiment, He had been called 
off as one of the detail of Company K, and he stood 
there in the ranks as large as life. He was nearly 
six-and-a half feet high. and of proportionate weight. 
and had consequently never been able to find, up to 
this point of our service, any covering such as is 
known by ''The Regulation" that was large enough 
for his head. Hence, while ail the- government pro- 
party that was with him was as bright and clean as a 
new pin, his head was covered by the same hat he 
had worn when he enlisted, and at this time it was a 
very shabb} 7 brown in color. 

After we had taken our place in line, and had ar- 
rived at that stage in the proceedings of guard mount- 
ing when an inspection takes place, who should we 
see swooping down upon oar part of the line, but 
the celebrated Adjutant, in his own proper parson, 
with a countenance at once so angry and vindictive 
that I doubt if any one with less avordupois than 
"our infant 1 * could have withstood the majesty of his 
wrath. 

It was in vain that the joint explanations of both 
the "infant" and our Lieutenant that he was not 
wearing a regulation hat for the simple reason that 
he had never had one furnished him that he could 
wear, were proffered; our whole detail was rejected 
in disgrace, and ordered to report at once to the com- 
mandant in the fort, near which we were encamped, 
with the request from the irate Adjutant that a new 
detail be at once sent down. 

By this time the sun was shining quite hot, and 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 109 

we did not much enjoy our march back to the top of 
the hill on which the fort was located. 

We reported to Colonel Messmore, in command 
of the fort, who was highly indignant at the rejec- 
tion of the whole guard, because one man did not 
have a regulation hat. He looked the guard over 
closely, and complimented the Lieutenant on their 
tine appearance; expressed himself more emphatic 
than polite as to the Post Adjutant, and called up the 
Captain of a Company of regulars that were located in 
the fort and asked him if the guard was not good 
enough for the regulars. Upon being told that the 
guard was a credit to any regiment, the Colonel turn- 
ed on his heel and confronting our Lieutenant said, 

"Lieutenant, present my compliments to that d d 

Poppinjay of a Post Adjutant, and tell him that if he 
wants any better guards, by G — d he can make 
them !" 

Whether the Lieutenant made a verbatim report 
of the message I do not know, but the writer has a 
vivid remembrance that when he went to eat his din- 
ner on picket that day, instead of some good homely 
bread and milk that he had expected to have, he had 
to get along with butter milk, his new milk having 
been churned, by the evolutions he w 7 ent through to 
get on <nuird that morniny! 



The particular reason for ordering Colonel Wait- 
ing's cavalry force to take the field appears to have 
been a raid made by the enemy upon Union City, 
only some twenty miles distant, and the capture of 
that outpost, July 10th, in which were taken 90 pris- 
oners, 116 horses, some stores and other property, 
and in which two of our men were killed and eight 
wounded. When the alarm was given Gen. Asboth 
ordered the 32nd Iowa under Colonel Scott to pro- 



110 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

ceed at once to Union City by train, but the enemy 
bad departed in hot haste an hour before we arrived. 



One of the incidents which occurred at Colum- 
bus, and worthy of note for several reasons, was the 
hanging of three negroes, on Friday October 9th. 
1863. They had been tried by a Military Commis- 
sion of which Col. W. T. Shaw of the 14th Iowa was 
president, and found guilty of murdering a family 
not very distant from Island Number Ten, from 
which the lighting negroes had gone on their expe- 
dition for revenge of alleged previous outrages. 
There were said to be extenuating circumstances, 
but the finding of the court was approved by Gener- 
al Hurlbut, in command at Memphis, and an order 
returned for the early execution of the con- 
demned men. 

This order was directed to Gen. A. J. Smith, 
who had succeeded Gen. Asboth iu command of the 
District of Columbus. Gen, Smith transmitted the 
order for the execution to Colonel Scott, in com- 
mand of the Post, with directions to have it carried 
out. Colonel Scott repaired in person, with the or- 
ders and the Army Regulations in hand, to General 
Smith's Head Quarters, and called his attention to 
the fact that no capital sentence could be carried out 
until it had been approved by the President of the 
United States. Gan. Smith declined to interpose 
any objeciions to the order of his superior, or to 
modify it by granting time, or otherwise, and very 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. Ill 

emphatically advised Col. Scott not to take the re- 
sponsibility of disobeying 1 such an order. Thus, in 
return, Colonel Scott passed the order to the Pro 
vost Marshal, and he hanged them by the neck un- 
til they were dend. 

Return was made through the regular channel 
of the execution of the orders, and these returns 
went through the War Department to President 
Lincoln, who, nearly a year after the men had been 
illegally executed, returned the same with his disap 
proval, referring to the article in the Army Regula- 
tions that had been violated! 



Earty in July Company C of the 32nd Iowa, as be 
fore noted, was transformed into mounted infantry, 
and atl ached to the Fourth Missouri Cavalry. Of 
this, and of their experiences for the ensuing six 
months, Albert Trask, of that Company, says: — 

The reason assigned for this was that the whole, 
or some portion of the Company might attend each 
scouting party of the Fourth Missouri, to protect 
that regiment from being fired into at long range by 
the rebels and bushwhackers that infested the region 
that regiment was required to scout over. 

The Fourth Missouri Cavalry at that time were 
armed with sabers and revolvers, and the bush- 
whackers would ambush them at points where the 
cavalry could not reach them by a charge, tiring 
from such a distance that pistol shots would not be 
effective. The Enfield rifles with which Company C 
was armed was a weapon of very long range. 

Company C drew their horses and cavalry equip- 
ments, and a sorry looking lot of horses they were. 
Some were better than others, of course, and in or- 



112 THIRTY SECOND RE CUM EXT 

der that no partiality should be shown, and that the 
horses selected might go by lot, as it were, Capt. 
Peebles directed they should be hitched in a row, as- 
they came from the corral, and that the orderly 
Sergeant should call the roll, the first man taking 
the first horse, the second man the second horse, aud 
so on until all the horses were drawn. The writer 
of this sketch well remembers the prize he drew, and 
the earnest remonstrance, verging on profanity, with 
which he untied him, the Captain laughing, almost 
to the point of convulsions, and promising him an 
early chance to trade; — a promise that he faithfully 
redeemed within the next ten days. 

As soon as the company was mounted we began 
to try hand and foot at drilling. Some few had had 
no experience whatever in horseback riding, and 
scarcely one had ever ridden with spurs; and the ef- 
forts of those who tried to maintain an equilibrium 
by clinging to their horses with their spurs was not 
remarkably successful. However a little practice at 
dismounting, without the formality of orders to that 
effect, soon cured the men of that idiosyncrasy, and 
on the 8th of July we accompanied the Fourth Mo., 
Cavalry to Clinton, Ky , to resist the advance of 
General Forest, as he had at that time approached to 
the near vicinity of Union City, Tenn., and was 
threatening an attack upon Columbus. On the 9th, 
our tents and cooking utensils were sent out to us 
from Columbus, but the next day we were ordered to 
send them back with our horses. 

On the llth we received orders to return to Col- 
umbus, and got there about sunset. 

We remained about Columbus until the 19th of 
July, doing picket duty a few miles out. most of the 
time, and on that date we returned to Clinton, where 
we remained, picketing and patrolling the roads un- 
til July 23rd, when we started, in company with the 
Fourth Missouri Cavalry upon a scout that took us 
through Farmington, Paris, Conyersville, Boysdville T 
Fulton, Jacksonville, and finally we brought up at 
Union City, Tenn., at which point we were informed 
we were going to establish headquarters for an in- 



IOWA VOLUNTEEEIS. 1 L3 

definite time, and probably as long as we should re- 
main mounted. 

We first lived in Sibley tents, but as cold weather 
approached we put up substantial wooden barracks. 
Our duties were mainly to keep down the bushwhack- 
ing element, disperse the guerrilla bands, prevent 
the smuggling of salt, quinine, medical and military 
stores, and keep thoroughly advised of any move- 
ments of Gen. Forest. 

Our duties required us to do a great deal of 
night scouting, and on several occasions we captured 
i'rom ten to fourteen two horse teams, principally 
loaded with salt, that was being smuggled into the 
interior for shipment to the rebel army. 

Of course we sometimes brought in teams that 
on further inquiry we found were all right, and had 
to let them go again. Upon one occasion we had 
captured a number of loads of goods, in which salt 
cut a prominent figure, that we learned the next day 
belonged to union people, and had to be returned. 
Among other arrivals to claim goods at this time 
was a young man in the uniform of a union Lieuten- 
ant of Infantry, who belonged to a Tennessee Infan- 
try command/ He came in laughing, and informed 
the boys that he could appreciate the position they 
were in, for he had been there himself; but the fact 
was, he was home on a few days furlough and had 
been out to town to get a supply for his family, and 
that everything had been gobbled by our scout. He 
was asked to give a schedule of his goods, which he 
was able to quickly do from his bill of purchase, and 
within 30 minutes the whole list was delivered to 
him. except a pair of baby-shoes which it was sup- 
posed had been lost from the wagon when the search 
was being made. 

Along near the middle of August one of the en- 
rolling officers in the county in Kentucky nearest to 
Union City, that had been appointed by the Govern- 
or of the State to enroll the militia of the state for a 
draft, applied for a guard to protect him from the 
bushwhackers, in the discharge of his duties, and 
Sergeant Cutter and twelve men, of whom the writ- 
er of this sketch was one, were detailed for that 



114 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

duty. We rode as rapidly as possible from place to 
place, and as a rule the enrolling officer did not dis- 
mount. 

He would ride up to the door of a house, and call 
an inmate to the gate. Ordinarily the summons 
would be answered by a woman or a very old man. 
and as a rule we found few liable to military duty 
that were at home, They were in the service on one 
side or the other. 

The frequent recurrence of a certain dialogue 
fixed the same upon my mind, until the lapse of thir- 
ty years has not dimned it in the least. It would 
run something after the following form: 

Enrolling Officer. "Who lives here?" 

Ans. "John Jones." 

Q. "How old is he?" 

A. "Don't know." 

Q. "Have you a family bible?" 

A. "I reckon. " 

Q. "Bring it tome." 

An inspection would generally serve the pur- 
pose, and a few cpaestions would develop the fact 
that it had been filled in from tune to time by a 
school teacher, or some other person that could 
write. It would also develop whether any sons were 
in the family and where they were, and if any were 
liable for draft they would be enrolled. Then the 
dialogue would be renewed; 

Q. "Where is your post office address?" 

A. "]\Jy what?" 

Q. "Where do you get your letters?" 

A. "Don't get any." 

Q. "Well, where w T ould they come if you did 
get any?" 

A. (After due deliberation) "Philliseann, I 
reckon." 

The amount of ignorance displayed by the whites 
was simply amazing. T have seen men that owned 
from 25 to 30 slaves that would have to call up a 
slave to make change for them. 

Quite a number of times. during the Summer and 
Autumn our scouting parties encountered small bodies 
of the enemy's cavalry, mostly Falkner' s Tennessee 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 115 

Regiment, but such encounters usually ended in 
slight skirmishes, at long range, and it so happened 
that none of Company C were injured in them. 

On the 18th day of November L863, one of our 
scouts informed us that Major Solstreet, of the 2nd 
Mississippi Cavalry had crossed Sharp's Ferry, on 
the Obion River, which was about 13 miles from 
Union City, with 120 men, on his way to raid some 
Jew clothing stores at Hickman. By the way these 
Jew merchants that were so frequently robbed by 
the rebels bad such a quick way of recuperating 
from their losses, and starting right in again with a 
new stock at the same old stand, that we had a strong 
suspicion that they did not lose so much as might ap- 
pear at first blush, and that in fact they stood in with 
the rebels and selected their stock with a view to just 
what the robbers wished for. 

But be that as it may, on this occasion Capt. 
Moore, of Company D 2nd Illinois cavalry, with 
about sixty of his men was stalled direct for Hick- 
man, and Capt. Peebles with Company C, and enough 
of the 4th Missouri Cavalry to make up 125 men, was 
sent to guard Sharp's and Circe's Ferries, they be- 
ing the only ferries any where near having boats 
large enough to carry horses. 

Part of our command went to Sharp's and the 
balance to Circe's ferry, and remained until near 
noon the next day, when hearing nothing of the ene- 
my we started for camp. On the way we encounter- 
ed Capt. Moore escorting about 40 prisoners, and 
leading twice as many captured horses. 

It seems that the rebels, through their usual 
means of communication, known as the grape vine 
telepraph, had become apprised that both Ferries 
were guarded, so they could not cross there, and had 
gone further down the river to Merriweather's Ferry, 
where they had to cross the men in a small boat, and* 
swim the 1 horses; at this point Capt. Moore overtook 
them soon after they started to cross, had killed and 
wounded quite a number, and captured the prisoners 
and horses as above stated. 

During our various scouts we picked up and sent 



116 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

north quite a number of prisoners, a large propor- 
tion of whom were commissioned officers, on short 
visits home. We were* quite successful in gathering 
prisoners around the very many small distilleries 
scattered over the country, it seeming to be a favor- 
its place for the Johnnies as well as some of our boys 
to lay in a supply of the 'necessaries of life.' 

Quite a tragic event occurred upon one occasion, 
when Lieutenant Thomas and a part of the Company 
were on a scout. While the command was halted to 
feed their horses about eighty rods from one of these 
distilleries, but with a small hill interveneing. Lieu- 
tenant Thomas was informed that a union officer be- 
longing to a Tennessee regiment was stopping at the 
dwelling house attached to the distillery. The 
Lieutenant wishing to see him asked one of the boys 
who had just joined us from a long absence in a hos- 
pital, to ride down to the distillery and bring back 
the officer, naming his rank, if he found him there. 
John had been out on a few scouts since he had re- 
joined the command, and on each occasion we had 
made descents on distilleries, and in most instances 
captured prisoners; so at once supposed he was to 
capture the officer. He rode away in full speed, and 
in a very short time came back full as fast as he went* 
but brin^inp: no man with him. The Lieutenant ask- 
ed if he did not find him, and was told that he did. 
but that he refused to come, drew his pistol, and 
John had had to shoot him. The Lieutenant mount- 
ed his horse in hot haste and visited the distillery 
himself, where he found the officer shot through the 
neck, but fortunately it had hit no bone or artery, 
and the officer soon recovered. 

The officer fully excused John from all blame, 
saying that he mistook John for a bushwhacker and 
drew his revolver, but John was too quick for him. 
and got in his shot first. It is needless to say that 
the recovery of the officer w T as a great relief to the 
mind of John. 

During the early part of Decern her 1863. we re- 
ceived quite an addition ro our forces in the way of 
Cavalry. Infantry and some artillery. 

On the 12th, 'the 7th Indiana Cavalry, the 17th 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 117 

New York Infantry, and the 35th New Jersey Infan- 
try arrived, and about the same time the 19th Penn- 
sylvania Cavalry came into camp. 

There were quite a number of other Regiments- 
arrived during the next week, and on December 23rd 
we all started, under General A. J. Smith, for Jack- 
son, Tennessee, at which point we were informed 
Forest had gone into winter quarters. 

A couple of mountain howitzers had been attach- 
ed to the cavalry command, and Company was de- 
tailed to act as a support to them, and as a result of 
that duty we were exempt from picket or other 
guard duty during the whole expedition, except to 
guard the howitzers and our own horses. 

Soon after we started the weather began to get 
very cold, and the snow fell to quite a depth. I think 
we suffered more from the cold on that trip than we 
did at any other time in the service. 

We reached Jackson on the evening of December 
29th, but far in advance of the Infantry and train. In 
fact they did not get as far as Jackson at all, and as 
Forest had got out of there with his command before 
we reached there we had no fighting whatever. We 
remaiued there until January 2nd 1864, when we 
started on our return. The frost had been so great 
that we crossed some streams on the ice, and the new 
men who had not yet learned to care for themselves 
suffered greatly. 

We finally reached Union City, on the 7th of 
January, and were glad to get into our warm barracks 
once more. 

January 17th 1864 we received orders to march 
to Columbus. Kentucky, and turn over our horses,and 
rejoin the. six companies: and thus ended the services 
of Company C as mounted Infantry. 



Duty at Columbus for the seven months prior to 
Januarv 22nd. 1864, was rather monotonous, being 



118 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

mainly the routine of camp-life. But the 32nd Iowa 
made its impress upon the policy adopted toward the 
freed man and his late owner, and that Post was soon 
known as a safe refuge for those escaping from bon- 
dage. Captain Cadwallader of the 32nd Iowa, being' 
a Methodist preacher, was at his own request trans- 
ferred from the command of his Company to the 
Chaplaincy of the Regiment, a vacancy in that posi- 
tion having occurred, and was made Superintendent 
of Contrabands. In due course this position be 
came one of responsibility. Kentucky not having 
formally joined the Confederacy her slavholding citi- 
zens were 'loyal' ;and were-not slow in asserting their 
rights under the Constitution. They brought suits 
in the State courts to recover wages from those 
within our lines who employed their alleged slaves; 
the plaintiffs coming from their homes to Clinton, 
the county seat, for that purpose. The defendants 
could not safely appear in Clinton, and judgments 
went against them by default. Prior to the service 
of the 32nd Iowa in Columbus the officers of the 
State courts had freely come within our lines and 
served their notices and warrants, 

But affairs took a change in the Summer and 
Fall of 1863. The State officers were forbidden to 
serve such papers under penalty of confinement in 
the Military Prison, and one of them was actually in- 
carcerated to satisfy his court that its jurisdiction 
did not then include Columbus. Even this did not 
deter the court from going through the forms pre- 
scribed by the State laws, and finally the Court and 
the plaintiffs, all dignified "Kentucky gentlemen, 
sah," were brought to Fort Halleck within the lines 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 119 

of the Post of Columbus, and placed in the guard- 
house of the Second Tennessee Heavy Artillery. 
(This Regiment consisted of colored soldiers, most 
of them having previously been held as slaves in that 
region, and the place of confinement was familiarly 
and pleasantly known as "the Nigger Guard- House!") 
This summary course was taken by the Post 
Commander, and carefully kept for a day or two 
from the knowledge of the General commanding the 
District, who was highly incensed over the indignity 
visited upon the distinguished citizens; but who was 
made to understand that some had come to the con- 
clusion that what was good enough for a colored man 
serving under the flag was good enough for a disloy- 
al white man! The incident served a double purpose. 
It intimidated those who had annoyed the Post au- 
thorities, and it opened the eyes of at least one ex- 
cellent General of our army to a phase of the ques- 
tion to which he had apparently not previously given 
a thought. He was not afterwards known to speak 
of the colored troops as "niggers." 



Duty at Columbus ceased on January 22nd, 1864, 
when the 32nd Iowa — six Companies — went on board 
the Steamer Lucy, and her bow was turned down the 
great River. 



CHAPTER XV. 



TO VlCKSBURG, AND MERIDIAN. 



The first day of January 1864 will be long- re- 
membered as most bitterly cold, both North and 
South. The six Companies were fortunate in having 
quarters that enabled them to make themselves if 
not fairly comfortable, at least secure from being- 
frozen. Preparations for a movement to the front 
were being made, and the more or less pleasant as- 
sociations and memories of the camp at Columbus 
were finally left behind us on the 22nd of January, 
when we went on board the '•Lucy," under orders for 
the farther South. This movement was hailed«with 
much satisfaction by members of the Regiment. 
Alas! how many never came back! 

On reaching Memphis, the Headquarters of the 
16fh Army Corps, commanded by General Hurlbut. 
we received General Order, No. 17 by which Gen. 
A. J. Smith was assigned to the command of the 
Third Division, the Second Brigade of which was 
composed of the Fourteenth. Twenty -Seventh, and 
Thirty-second Regiments of Iowa Infantry Volun- 
teers, and the 178th New York. Later an exchange 
was made of the last named regiment for the Twenty- 
Fourth Missouri. This order was dated January 
24th 1864. 

Passed Helena on the 26th, reached Vicksburg 
on the 27th, and went into camp below the city, near 
the river, and three days later removed to a point 
some three miles farther east, where we had a chance 
to study some of the incidents of the famous siege of 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 121 

the captured strong-hold of the rebellion. 

The first day of February was occupied in pre- 
paration for light marching. Effective men were to 
carry a light outfit. Transportation was furnished 
for twenty days rations of salt, coffee, and bread, and 
for light valises of Field and General Officers. All 
else, including tents, to be left behind. 

Reached Black River, February 2nd. 

Crossed Black River on pontoons, February 4th. 
Being the last regiment in the Division on this par- 
ticular day it fell to us to guard the pontoons until 
the next Division came up. Reached camp at 8 p.m. 

Some mounted rebels hovered on our flanks, and 
among the casualties of the day was the loss of our 
pet drummer boy, little George A. Tod, who was 
picked up by some adventurous fellows that swoop- 
ed across our line of march. He was carried off to 
rebel prison, 

February 7th. Passed through Jackson, the 
State Capital, and camped at Brandon. 

Composed the rear-guard on the 8th, and had a 
line experience in keeping straggles in the march. 
Made but eight miles. 

Next day started early, and went into camp at 
midnight, having marched twenty-four miles; and 
the following day got over but one-third that dis- 
tance. These details indicate the nature of this 
tramp. At times the road was through the rolling 
pine lands; at others it w 7 as across river bottoms, in- 
cluding morasses and quicksands, where 'corduroy' 
must needs be laid for the passage of trains and ar- 
tillery. Through the greater part of the entire 
march the enemy made demonstrations that threat- 



122 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

ened the trains, but were evidently not of much 
strength. 

By this time it became apparent that we were 
on "Uncle Billy Sherman's" raid toward the heart of 
the Confederacy. We were bound for Alabama or 
Georgia; possibly Mobile; possibly Savannah; cer- 
tainly for Selma; much being dependent upon the 
movement of co-operating forces. 

The weather was very fine. The temperature 
was mild for February. There was no rain. More 
than once the troops were called into line of march 
at four o'clock in the morning and tramped till past 
the following midnight. Had the weather been un- 
favorable the expedition must of necessity have been 
abandoned. Rations of salt, coffee, and bread, must 
be supplemented by what the country could supply. 
Beef on foot, bacon in concealment, poultry in the 
yards, corn in the cribs, fodder in the stacks, honey 
in the hives, all these were the fruits of legitimate 
foraging under the code which then governed. It 
was not the season of the year for potatoes and green 
corn, but the camp-fire often threw off the savor of 
bacon on the coals, and that of the broiling chicken; 
and the smell of corn bread, rose from the ashes; all 
of which were as incense to the nostrils of the thou- 
sands of hungry soldiers. 

Our valentine was found to be the important 
railway station of Meridian, which was reached on 
the 14th of February. The Brigade was moved a few 
miles east of the town, and about the 16th and 17th 
began the work of railway destruction. Other por- 
tions of the force went in other directions, and a 
large amount of dam aire was soon done to the rebel 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 123 

lines of communication. 

Much public and some private property was des- 
troyed. Some abandoned dwellings were plundered. 
It was said that under the trees some of the soldiers 
slept soundly on feather beds in this brief camp near 
Meridian. In extenuation it may be said that it took 
a wearisome march to reach that distant point; tear- 
ing up railways, burning the ties, and bending the 
rails, greatly fatigued those so engaged; and the 
poor fellows, far from home, no doubt greatly enjoy- 
ed an addition to the customary soldier's blanket as 
a couch After the lapse of more than a third of a 
century, and the State of Mississippi has been re- 
stored to a condition of 'loyalty' to the nag we then 
carried, the writer of these chronicles has no regrets 
over having very promptly and emphatically declin- 
ed to put members of his command on guard, either 
day or night, over the feather beds or other proper- 
ty of Mississippians who would without compunc- 
tion have shot the sentinels on their beats, when so 
engaged. The then condition was w T ar. Those peo- 
ple were responsible for the condition, and it was 
their fortune to take the consequences. This is not 
meant as an apology for wrongs perpetrated upon 
non-combatants, yet such an apology might often 
be found in the acts of those who were loudest in 
claiming protection, and who then, and since, in safe 
company, have boasted, of the assassination of sol- 
diers. 

As a general thing members of the 32nd Iowa 
were innocent of acts of wanton destruction of pri 
vate property. Among so many it were not to be 
wondered if some were found who could not discrim- 



124 ' THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

inate between liberty and license. The sentiment 
that it was more important that a rebel should have 
dainties than that a loyal soldier should have food 
was never encouraged; and it may have been a mem- 
ber of that regiment who urged upon the remonstrat- 
ing mistress of the poultry yard that "this accursed 
rebellion must be put down, even if it should take 
the last chicken in the Confederacy I" 



On the 19th, the work of railway destruction 
having been well done, "the boys" were ready to 
look up some of those who were reported by the 'in- 
telligent contraband' as worthy of attention. Among 
these was a brutal slave-driver in the neighborhood 
of the camp. He was said to have mutilated, and 
even murdered, some of his slaves, for which he had 
never even been held to answer by the authorities. 
He was brought into camp by some of the officers' 
servants, who, with Sergeant B— - of the 32nd 
Iowa, took him before the Commander of the Bri- 
gade, and narrated the story of the crimes laid to his 
charge. That officer is said to have ordered them 
to "take him out into the woods, and hang him!" 
The Sergeant was one of those conscientious men 
who would do and stand by the right tho' the Heav- 
ens should fall, but with no more appreciation of the 
grim humor of his superior than would have been 
shown by an oyster, and forthwith he headed the 
procession in search of a convenient sapling! 

It was more the result of the Sergeant's religi- 
ous convictions, and his disinclination to be the 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 125 

means of hurrying such a sinner before the bar of 
the final judgement without a moment for repentance, 
than from any suspicion as to his duty, that delayed 
the execution until the officer of the day got wind of 
the matter, and took the * entire party before the 
commander of the Division. The Sergeant unhesi- 
tatingly referred to the orders received as his au- 
thority. The commander of the Brigade explained 
that the order to hang the man was merely a jest, 
meant to terrify the victim, and the farce that might 
have been a tragedy, came to an end much more to 
the satisfaction of the cruel monster than to that 
of the camp-followers! 



Early in the morning of the 20th the return to 
Vicksburg was begun, and twenty miles were com- 
pleted before night came on. This movement settled 
the character of the expedition. Whatever may have 
been the original objective point, and whatever the 
purpose in view, it culminated in the crippling of 
the railways in the heart of the enemy's country, 
and in the demonstration of the capacity of an army 
to partially subsist itself without dependence on its 
base of supplies. Perhaps Gen. Sherman gained 
from this "Expedition to Meridian" much experience 
that was valuable to him on his subsequent famous 
"March to the Sea." 

February 26th, arrived at Canton without inci- 
dent of note. Many negroes and some whites join- 



126 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

ed our line of march, fleeing from slavery, conscrip- 
tion, and other evils. 

February 28th. The regiment was- mainly en- 
gaged in destroying railways; but Captain Peebles 
was out with a foraging party, lost six teams, 
and had one man killed, private Flood, of Com- 
pany C. 

March 1st, left Canton in a rainstorm, accom- 
panied by a special train in charge of the Chaplain 
of the 32nd Iowa, consisting of non-descript vehicles, 
ranging from ox-carts to Conestoga wagons, and fill- 
ed with negroes of all ages r colors, and sexes, and 
many previous conditions of servitude. Hundreds 
of woolly heads rose from the miscellaneous plunder 
with w T hich the carts and wagons were filled, making 
it a most memorable as well as a most motley pro- 
cession. The Chaplain had a grave responsibility as- 
well as a dangerous task. Had a few wellarmed reb- 
els or guerillas pounced upon his charge the whole 
party would have been sent to Kingdom Come with- 
out benefit of clergy. He knew all this, was equal 
to the occasion, and reached Vicksburg without other 
disaster than the loss of his valuable horse. 

On the evening of March 3d the command reach- 
ed Black River, and the 32nd Iowa was cheered by 
meeting some of the officers of the Four Companies 
from the other Dapartment. Next day a march of 
18 miles brought us to the camp in the rear of Vicks- 
burg, and the Regiment was again an entirety, after 
a separation that began at St. Louis in November. 
1862. It was a time of great rejoicing. Each de- 
tachment lustily cheered the other, and the whole 
gave cheer after cheer for the occasion. Thirty 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 127 

days mail, and the newspapers for February were 
distributed. It was a memorable day in the history 
of the regiment, and a happy conclusion of the Meri- 
dian Expedition. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



The United Regiment On The Red River Expe 

dition; Port De Russy; Alexandria; To 

Pleasant Hill. 



The morning report of March 7th, 1864, shows 
a total enrolment of 864 men. Recruits said to be 
on the way are expected to swell this number to 950. 

The air is full of rumors. Some great move- 
ment is on foot. Transports crowd the Vicksburg 
levee. Though foot-sore and leg-weary from the 
tramp of 400 miles through alternate morass and 
pine forest of Mississippi the 32nd Iowa had a keen 
appetite for what was supposed to be somewhere at 
the front, and wanted to taste it. There were sug- 
gestions of the March to the Sea. Wherever Uncle 
Billy would lead the Iowa boys were anxious to fol- 
low. 

It was to a certain extent known that the rich 
Red River country was feeding large forces of the 
enemy. Ninety per cent of the white males able to 
bear arms were in the rebel army. Old men, child- 
ren, the women, and hordes of negroes, recent slaves, 
but now fully knowing that they had been emanci 



128 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

pated, constituted the population of that region. In 
1863 the women and the negroes made the crops that 
gave themselves subsistence, and furnished large 
amounts to sustain the armies in the field. The loy- 
alty of the negroes to the race that held them in 
slavery, and was making every effort to perpetuate 
that condition, as against those whose victory would 
enfranchise them, must be regarded as one of the 
most wonderful things in history. There is no re- 
cord of a threat of resistance to the old authority, no 
uprising, no rapine, no revenge for long continued 
oppression of the race, or for personal outrages with- 
out number! What a record as compared with the 
history of the third of a century which followed their 
coinplete emancipation! What a comparison be- 
tween the order the negroes maintained when all 
power was in their hands, and the brutalities inflict- 
ed on them by the old oppressor when protection 
was shamefully withdrawn! 

Food crops were those most largely produced, 
but each woman in the cotton belt knew that the pos- 
session of the fleecy staple meant gold. So all tried 
to grow a little cotton. With it they could buy 
medicines for their sick children and a few of the 
luxuries of the life that seemed so far away in the 
dreadful w T ar time, Then, too, it must be remember- 
ed, the Confederates did not lose the ^reat cotton 
States until the war was nearly over. The States of 
Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas in par- 
ticular were in Confederate possession, and the Union 
armies held only the strategic points. Could the 
Confederacy have gotten the cotton out there would 
have been no scarcity of military stores and supplies. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 129 

But the blockade was too firmly maintained. It 
could not be broken. 

The enormous amount of cotton in that region 
was known to our authorities, and it was known that 
from there much of the subsistence of the rebel 
armies was drawn. Cotton was then worth more 
than one dollar per pound, Northern mills stood 
idle for lack of the staple, and great efforts were 
made to induce the President to get these supplies 
for use, and to save them from destruction. The 
Spragues received permits to buy cotton for their 
mills in Rhode Island, and perhaps another house 
or two got the same privilege. It is said that a 
Jewish house in New York offered $1,000,000 in gold 
for permission to send their agents into Arkansas 

alone. 

The high price of cotton made such a tempta- 
tion both to the producers and to treasury agents 
that enormous frauds were perpetrated, and like 
risks were taken. Members of our Army and navy 
became infected, and many a name otherwise without 
a stain was smirched by being connected with these 
transactions. It may be safely assumed that hund- 
reds to whom the charge has never been openly 
brought participated in these profits of shame. 

So much by way of prelude to the story of the 
Red River Expedition, on which it was now known 
that we were to embark for thirty days. 



The Historian has the benefit of data furnished 
heretofore published by Sergeant Boyd, whose work 



130 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

has been formally endorsed by the Regimental As- 
sociation. No apology is therefore necessary for any 
quotations made from Sergeant Boyd's work, how- 
ever extended. He wrote from copious notes record- 
ed at the time the events occurred, and these he am- 
plified from a well-stored memory, before they had 
time to fade and from the evidence of contemporane- 
ous witnesses that were about him. Of these events 
Sergeant Boyd says: — 

As a united regiment we were designed to form 
a part of the grand army of General Sherman's that 
was to disembowel the Southern Confederacy on his 
march to the sea. But in conformity to special or- 
der, No. 63, from Gen. McPherson, issued in obedi- 
ence to instructions from Gen. Sherman, 7,500 men 
from the Sixteenth Army Corps, under command of 
General Joseph A. Mower, and 2,500 under General 
T. Kilby Smith from the 17th Army Corps, and all 
under command of General A. J. Smith, were loaned 
to General Banks for thirty days, to date from the 
time of our entering the Red river country, to aid 
him to dissect the cotton and su^ar regions of West- 
ern Louisiana, and capture Shreveport. 

For this expedition the Thirty-second Iowa form- 
ed a part of Shaw's brigade of Mower's command. 

On the 10th day of March we boarded the steam- 
er South Wester, and about 4 o'clock p. m.. the sig- 
nal gun was fired, and 21 transports hauled in their 
cables and swung out into the Mississippi on that 
ill-fated expedition. At 2 p. m. of the 11th we were 
at the lower or southern mouth of the Red river 
(an old channel of the Mississippi) where lay Admir- 
al Ellet's marine brigade. 

As the fleet of gunboats and transports moved 
up the channel of the old river.about noon of the 12th, 
the scene as presented to the eye of the soldier from 
the hurricane deck of the South Wester, was truly 
grand. At times the fleet moved in groups or clus- 
ters, and in some bends the whole could be seen at 
one view; and as the transports were densely packed 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 131 

from boiler to hurricane deck, with soldiers in blue, 
together with the ^audy uniforms of the marines on 
the gunboats, and all with the stars and stripes float- 
ing in the breeze, was a scene not soon to be forgot- 
ten. 

We moved up to the head of the Atchafalaya 
and then turned down that stream, and on the morn- 
ing of the 13th disembarked at Simms' Landing, the 
enemy's pickets falling back, and we taking posses- 
sion of their camp. The lieet returned and went up 
by way of Red river. 

We at once started from Simms' port for a fort 
some five miles out on Yellow bayou, said to be gar- 
risoned by 2,500 men under Gen. Scurry. We found 
an extensive uncomplete earthen fort from which 
the enemy had retreated. We captured a few men 
and teams and then returned to the Landing. Orders 
then came to draw five days rations of hardtack, 
coffee and salt, and an extra supply of amunition, 
and be ready to start at any moment. Starting again 
at 9 o'clock at night, we marched nine miles halting 
about midnight. The boys made coffee, hastily ate 
a soldier's meal and laid down for a sleep; but at 4 
o'clock reveille sounded. At 5:30 we were on the 
move harrassed by side or flank skirmishing, until 
we reached a stream or bayou, where the enemy had 
just destroyed the bridge, (the burning timbers were 
still floating on the water) and were on the opposite 
bank to dispute our passage. 

The third Indiana battery moved quickly up, un- 
limbered and sent her shells into the enemy's ranks 
with great rapidity. Under the protection of the 
battery we were ferried over in some rickety old flat 
boats. The enemy retired. The bridge was rebuilt 
in about two hours, and the march resumed. 

About 4 o'clock we came to a lane turning to the 
right at right angle, when we were startled by the 
boom of artillery, and solid shot and shell coming 
greetingly down the lane to meet us. Starting on 
double quick, forward, and filing through a piece of 
heavy timber, we were exposed to a full raking fire 
from the heavy guns of the fort, when "forward^ 
yelled Colonel Scott, and we sprung quickly into bat- 



132 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

tie line to a slight hollow, among some scrubby thorn 
bushes, where Colonel Scott ordered: '-Down! down! 
every man, down flat!" As down we dropped to moth- 
er earth, torrents of shot, shell and rninnie balls 
passed over us, some vines over our heads were cut 
clean as if mown with a scythe. Again came the 
voice of Colonel Scott: "Up, quick; by the right flank,. 
double (/nick." Just as the regiment started forward 
by the flank, a larue shell from the fort came whizz- 
ing by, a little to our right and a little higher than 
our heads, and sweeping parrallel with the regimen- 
tal line; a little lower and a little farther to our left, 
a little delay on the part of the commanding Colonel, 
and the Thirty -second Iowa would doubtless have 
been swept out of existence. But the clear ringing 
voice of Colonel Scott was heard amidst the din and 
roar of musketery and artillery. "Left halj "wheel , 
double quick, forward: and shelter yourselves behind 
the old logs and stumps, and pick the gunners " This 
brought the regiment within close musket range un- 
der the heavy guns of the fort. The old stumps and 
logs on the field made a fair shelter. But here came 
a new danger. Commodore Porter was just coming 
up the river with his fleet of Gunboats, and his ad- 
vance boats, the Eastport and Neosho began to throw 
their shells with fearful rapidity, and we were in 
more danger from the explosion of his shells than 
from the guns of the enemy. Porter discovering the 
condition of affairs caused his boats to cease firing. 
And the fleet stood at bay, mute spectators of the 
land force taking the works by storm. 

Soon the guns were silenced for want of uunners 
to man them, and again came the order, "Up! for- 
ward, charger The ditch was leaped; the white flag 
was up; the fort was ours, and the Stars and Stripes 
w r ere waving in the breeze over defences that had 
cost the enemy much labor, and taxed the ingenuity 
of the noted engineer, Colonel De Kussy, to build. 
Col. De Russy had spent over a year with 5,000 con- 
trabands building the fort and strengthening the de- 
fences on Red river about Marksville. Rebel prison- 
ers afterwards taken at Henderson's hill, above 
Alexandria, informed us that Dick Taylor had assur- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 133 

ed them that no Yankee troops could ever pass Fort 
De Russy. The first intimation they had that it was 
taken, was the whistling of our fleet steaming up ro 
Alexandria. The Regiment lost only three men. 
James Rood of Company I was killed and James 
Kent of Company A was shot through the lungs and 
was unconscious for some ten days but finally recov- 
ered. And one man was wounded by a piece of the 
shell when it exploded, after sweeping parallel with, 
and the entire length of the Regiment line. It cer- 
tainly seems strange that the Regiment escaped as 
it did. On the 15th the Regiment again boarded the 
old South Wester, and the next day was at Alexan- 
dria. 

When we left Vicksburg for Red river, we were 
shipped on the hurricane deck of a steamer direct 
from the smoky city of Pittsburg. And as we lay 
around her pilot house and smoke stacks, we cer- 
tainly enjoyed a fair amount of her soot and coal- 
dust. And after storming Fort De Russy, we took 
our old place and were thankful to there rest and 
ride even in the coal-smoke and soot. On reaching 
Alexandria our already threadbare clothes did not 
present a very fine appearance. After getting there, 
some one complained to Colonel Shaw, then com- 
manding the brigade, that we ought to have some- 
thing better to eat, as our rations were not then first 
class, even for a soldier. The Colonel ordered a 
squad of men to go out into the country and get 
something better and issue it regularly to the men. 
"No Jayhawking about." So the Quarter Master 
and Major Eberhart took a squad of thirteen men 
and went out to the residence of Governor Moore, 
the then Rebel Governor of Louisiana. On approach- 
ing the place we found the premises very fine. A 
beautiful lawn ran all around the residence, neatly 
leveled and shaven as with a lawn mower. Just as 
the squad approached the left of the premises they 
discovered a nice lot of young porkers, the hams and 
shoulders of which would fry nicely in a soldier's 
frying pan, and near by was a large poultry yard 
well filled with ducks, chickens, etc., and a little 
farther off and to the right was an apiary. We could 



V64 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

taste the sweetness of the honey as a gentle breeze 
blew in our faces. Ah! now, thought we, here is a 
paradise for a hungry soldier. But just as we moved 
up towards the porkers, Halt! Halt! rang out upon 
our ears as a Union soldier stepped out on our front, 
dressed in a handsome new uniform of blue, his shoes 
well polished, a paper collar around his neck, and 
with his gun and bayonet well polished and glisten- 
ing in the sun, repeated with emphasis, Halt! Halt! 
Just then stepped out a corporal of the guard, also 
well dressed in splendid new uniform, paper collar, 
and with white cotton gloves on his hands, and soon 
appeared a Lieutenant and even Captain of the guard, 
ail dressed in handsome new officers uniforms, their 
swords dangling by their sides, their scarfs around 
their shoulders with golden tassels trailing to the 
ground. 

And on looking up to the veranda of the house 
we could see a well dressed Union Colonel sitting in 
an easy chair, the eagle glistening on his shoulders. 
as there he sat with golden glasses on his face, quiet- 
ly reading a newspaper. In short we were informed 
that an entire Massachusetts regiment was there on 
guard, and "not a thing should be touched." We 
halted, we looked at them, in their fine uniforms, we 
looked at our own clothes, much worn and decidedly 
shabby, not a paper collar in the squad, not a '-biled 
shirt." Our shoes were not blacked, nor our guns 
very well polished, (but they were in shooting trim) 
and our stomachs possessed a decided vacuum. But 
our officer thought the first duty of the soldier was 
to obey orders. So we returned to camp and made 
our supper on rusty bacon and decidedly musty "hard- 
tack" while we soliloquized on the propriety of an 
entire regiment of Union soldiers guarding the pre- 
mises of the Rebel Governor of the state, while he 
was devoting his every energy to destroy the lives 
of Union soldiers and the Union itself. But some six 
weeks passed away, and look at that same palatial 
residence and the surroundings as they lay between 
the contending armies. The Rebel commander nev- 
er hesitated to send his shot and shell over and 
through it if thereby he could reach the Unicn lines. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 135 

The destruction of Gov. Moore's fine peach orchard, 
and even his entire premises, was to the Rebel Gen. 
eral a military necessity if they stood in his way of 
destroying the Union army. Was it a military neces- 
sity for us to protect them and save his porkers, and 
provisions for the men who were aiming to destroy 
the Union! 

Gov. Moore's plantation contained some four 
thousand acres of rich land, and had been well stock- 
ed with negroes. Some forage trips afterwards made 
to that vicinity proved more successful, especially 
the one under Lieutenant Shannon, in which he pro- 
cured "ten thousand chickens," and ducks not count- 
ed, and loaded them in less than one hour. But then 
Lieutenant Shannon was something extra on such 
forage trips. 

The regiment remained at Alexandria until the 
26th, awaiting the arrival of Banks and Franklin 
and the 19th army corps. A two days march 27th 
and 28th, brought us to Bayon Cotile in the north- 
west part of the Parish of Rapides, where the regi- 
ment remained until April 2nd and had its first bat- 
talion drill as a united regiment since leaving camp 
at Dubuque, Iowa. 

On the 2nd again boarded the "South Wester" 
and on the afternoon of the next day were at Grand 
E'Core. On the 4th went up on the north side of the 
river, above the town of Campte, to aid in protect- 
ing a gunboat and get it off a sand bar. skirmishing 
with the enemy. Returned to Grand E'Core on the 
evening of the fifth and crossed to the south side of 
the river, and camped in line of battle on the ridge 
or bluffs above Grand E'Core. The bluffs, in places, 
were one hundred and twenty feet high, perpendicu- 
lar above the river. Before daylight on the morn- 
ing of the 6th, we received orders to leave all sur- 
plus baggage on the boat, even to our portfolios and 
writing material, carry nothing but a rubber blanket, 
three days rations in our haversacks, forty rounds 
of cartridges in our cartridge boxes, and be ready to 
move at daylight on a rapid, forced march for Shreve- 
port by way of Pleasant Hill. Pleasant Hill is 25 



136 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

miles west and three miles north of Grand E'Core, 
by the section lines, but our road bore southeast of 
Spanish Lake, carrying us six miles further south, 
when we struck the divide between the streams flow- 
ing southwest into the Sabine river, and those flow- 
ing north into Ked river and Bayou La Pierre Lake. 
Our road then bore to the northwest meandering 
along the divide in the direction of Mansfield. We 
did not move until after nine o'clock on the morning 
of the 7th, At first the roads were very dusty, but a 
heavy rain changed the sandy red clay and dust to 
mud. After getting started Gen. Banks and Staff 
passed us moving rapidly to the front, We marched 
sixteen miles through a rouijh, poor country, mostly 
covered with pine timber and a thick, matted growth 
of underbrush. The improvements were very poor. 
The buildings were mostly huts, built of pine poles 
and daubed with red clay. The command was con- 
siderably annoyed and the march impeded by the 
narrow road being obstructed by a train, none of the 
teams belonging to us, but said by the boys to be 
loaded with paper collars and iron bedsteads for 
Banks' command. 

A heavy rain that night made the marching very 
hard the next day in the red mud. Twenty miles 
brought us to an old log church and graveyard, in 
the rear of the little village of Pleasant Hill, where 
the command halted for the night. But before we 
laid down to rest in our beds of leaves among the 
graves, rumors were rife in camp of disaster in our 
front, it being reported that the Thirteenth Army 
Corps had been all cut to pieces; General Ransom, 
commanding, mortally wounded, and that the Nine- 
teenth Corps was falling back on us badly demoraliz- 
ed. About 11 o'clock at night an officer on Banks' 
staff arrived in camp and confirmed the new of disas- 
ter. About an hour later orders came to General 
Smith's command to be ready to move at once; that 
the entire force in our front was falling back on us, 
and that we would be marched to the front. At 2 
o'clock a. m., we were called into line. 

After getting the true state of facts, as near as 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 137 

possible, Colonel Scott called his men around him, 
and told them the news from the front, and then add- 
ed, "Now, my boys, I have told you the worst, and 
if it comes to the worst, I ask of you to show yourselves 
to be men." 

In that trying- ordeal through which the regi- 
ment passed on that eventful day, need I say 
that Colonel Scott was not ashamed of his regiment, 
and that his men were not ashamed of their Colonel? 



CHAPTER XVII. 



Battle of Pleasant Hill As Told By Ser- 
geant Boyd. 



It was near 9 o'clock before we actually moved 
out of that graveyard camp. As we marched out to 
the road, a scene of indescribable confusion present- 
ed itself. It was impossible for infantry to get into 
the road without being trampled under foot. The 
road was a "jam" of six-mule teams, each striving to 
make the most speed to the rear. The mules were 
entangled each with their feet in the harness of the 
other. The drivers were whipping and swearing; 
and, as an accompaniment of the music of their whip- 
lashes, was their fearful cursings of General Banks 
and other officers. In fact nearly all the Generals 
in command the day previous appeared to come in 
for a share of their imprecations. One exception was 
the youthful General Ransom, then supposed to be 
mortally wounded. 

But by tearing through the thick underbrush un- 
til we reached the open ground near the village, we 
passed the retreating rabble. We passed to the left 
of the village, and then bearing to the right we cross- 
ed a small stream to the edge of a large open field, 
and then, filing left, moved down along the edge of 



lo'8 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

the field, forming 1 a line at the edge of the timber, 
facing westward over the open field. The left of the 
regiment extended to within a few rods of the corner 
of the field. A body of heavy timber, with thick 
matted growth of underbrush, being to the south of 
the field. The right of the regiment extended over 
the small stream. 

As we formed into line a body of troops then 
holding that position fell back or changed their posi- 
tions. One of these was the 47th Pennsylvania. 
Our regiment composed the extreme left of the bri- 
gade. The 27th and 14th Iowa and the 24th Missouri 
were on our right. To the extreme right of the bri- 
gade, on a ridge in an open field and a little in ad- 
vance of its right wing, was a battery, so stationed 
as to sweep with raking fire the Shreveport road and 
any force that the enemy might attempt to mass 
there. Colonel Shaw moved the right of his brigade 
slightly forward in order to be in supporting distance 
of the battery and defence of that road. His position 
was inspected, and action approved by General Stone, 
then Banks' Chief of Staff, and if properly supported 
and protected on the right and left was the best tViat 
could betaken. 

It was Gen. Charles P. Stone, of melancholy 
history — the same whom Wm. H. Seward afterwards 
met in Egypt, as chief of staff to the Khedive. He ap- 
peared to us a more genial and courteous officer than 
Gen. Dwight who succeeded him as chief of Banks' 
staff, but possibly did not carry as much "poor com- 
missary." 

But the volunteer soldier was not a good machine 
soldier. He would think, and at times would criti- 
cize even the actions of his officers, from the chever- 
one dsergeant to the double-starred General. And 
as the men lay there that day, with a light skirmish 
line thrown out over the open field, they would cast 
their eyes along the line to the extreme right of the 
brigade, and ask, is that flank properly supported 
and strengthened? And if the enemy masses his 
forces and charges in on that road, may he not force 
the right back or double it back on itself in spite of 
the bravest troops and one of the best brigade com- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 139 

manders who ever drew a sword? On going to the 
left of our regiment, we could detect a road coming 
through the timber to the corner of the field at an 
acute angle with our line, and the thick undergrowth 
of matted brush enabled them to mass their forces 
there unseen, while the support of our left was to 
our left and rear, and a brigade of colored troops 
was said to be somewhere. But our orders were 
positive and emphatic. "Hold this position at all haz- 
ards.' 1 We must stem the tide of the exulting and victori- 
ous foe. 

But with the exception of some skirmishing all 
was comparatively quiet until after 4 o'clock p. m. 

Major Eberhart had just been down to the left 
of our regiment, and w r as walking leisurely back in 
front of the line, when he remarked: "Boys, there 
will be no fight to-day." The remark was reiterated 
by a number of the officers and men. But stop! there 
is lively firing on the skirmish line. Our skirmish- 
ers are hotly engaged, and are rapidly falling back 
on the main line. And looking across the field to the 
timber beyond, it was alive with troops; the woods 
were full of cavalry preparing for a charge, and com- 
ing into line on a gallop. Here they come on a gal- 
lop and with a yell ! 

Col. Scott and our officers passed quickly along 
our line cautioning the men to keep cool. He said: 
"Keep cool, boys! Down! Hold your fire! Let 
them come within fifty yards and empty their car- 
bines; and then take careful aim and not shoot too 
hi<jh!" We were lying down. Their carbines were 
emptied, and they overshot us. Their right hands 
reached for their saber to make a saber charge, when 
the rifles of Shaw's brigade answered back. The 
range was close and deadly. If anything in the de- 
struction of human life could be grand and fearfully 
sublime, the repulsing of that charge surely was. 
Horses reared and plunged, and horses and riders 
fell. A number, I noticed, ran down our line drag- 
ing their wounded and mangled riders by the stir- 
rups, and a number ran. riderless, off into the woods 
to our left. One man on the right of our regiment 
rode clear into our lines, and was taken prisoner. 



140 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Another, riding a magnificent horse, clashed into the 
14th Iowa, and fell from his horse, dead. On his re- 
volver was engraved the name "Col. Buechel." 

A rebel officer, who came home on the same boat 
with us — from Vicksburg to St. Louis — and who 
witnessed the charge, said that no more than five or 
six men out of the 1.200 who made the charge but 
were either killed, wounded or unhorsed ! 

After the cavalry charge there was a lull for a 
few moments. Then came the infantry. At first 
they came at riaht shoulder shift. You could hear 
the command of their officers: "Dress up on the 
right ! Steady on the center ! Steady ! Steady, 
boys ! Keep cool ! Keep cool !" as with measured 
step they moved steadily forward. Colonel Scott 
and other officers again passed along the line, cau- 
tioning the men to keep cool and hold their fire. 
"Let them come; let them empty their guns, and 
then shoot low; never shoot above the belt!" he said. 
Their fire was delivered. We had a little the lower 
ground, and were overshot. "Fire! Fire!" was the 
order, as. our Springfield rifles answered back. Their 
line wavered and reeled back, as many fell to the 
ground. That clxarge w r as broken. A rebel officer 
taken prisoner that niyht, said that the volley of our 
regiment killed two hundred men, Bui. still came 
charge and volley after volley of musketry, although 

"Still with murderous elar^htPr 
Pelted back, they came again." 

But we, occupying a little the lower ground and 
lying clown, received but little injury. The twilight 
of evening was thickening around us when the firing 
in our front, and even the cannonading on our right. 
had ceased. For a few moments there was again a 
lull. But here from our right flank, from our left 
flank, and even from our rear, comes a murderous 
fire. In short, we are flanked both on the right and 
left, and the enemy is hotly engaged with our reserve 
line in our rear, and we are cut off, and our men fall- 
ing fast around us. The enemy had passed our left 
flank, and the other regiments of our brigade on the 
right had been ordered to fall back, but no order was 
sent the Thirty-second. Col. Shaw had himself, tried 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 141 

to reach us to order us back, but found a line of the 
enemy already between him and us. And here we 
were, our amunition exhausted, and Zip! Zip! came 
the minnie balls from right, left and rear Col. 
Scott comprehending the situation, ordered a care- 
ful movement to the left and rear, with open ranks, 
to avoid if possible the fire of our own troops; and 
in the dark we made our way out and formed a junc- 
tion with the 12th and 35th Iowa brigade. 

The regiment lost 210 men going into action with 
415. In the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava, 
immortalized in story and in song, Lord Cardigan 
took 673 officers and men into that action. They lost 
113 killed and 184 wounded, or 36.7 percent. The 
loss of the 32d at Pleasant Hill was 13.9 per cent 
greater, ^See May number of the Century article — 
"The chances of being hit in battle.") That article 
gives our number in action at 420. My diary makes 
it five men less. 

In a very short time, six companies to-wit: A., B, 
H, E, G, and D. lost over cwice as many men as the 
entire state of Texas lost in killed and wounded in 
the Mexican war, although she is credited with fur- 
nishing 8.018 men for that war; and seven times as 
many as the state of Louisiana had killed and wound- 
ed in the Mexican war where her quota is given at 
7.947; and more than 12 times as many as all the kill- 
ed and wounded of the great state of Georgia, al- 
though she was credited with 2.132 men. 

As the fragments of the regiment w r ere gathered 
together, our feelings could not be discribed. As 
name after name was called, some comrade would 
answ r er, "He was killed at my side; 1 ' another, "He 
w T as killed just as we turned into the timber;" and of 
others. Wounded and left on the field;" and there 
were others whose fate was unknown, but doubtless 
they fell in the woods as the regiment was cutting its 
way back. 

As the men who were left attempted to lie down 
and get some sleep, they had reason to be thankful 
that their lives were spared; but then so many of our 
comrades were dead, and so many whose fate was as 
yet unknown. We could hear the moaning of the 



142 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

wounded in the woods, through which we had made 
our way, and hear the ambulance corps and see 
their lights as they were gathering up the dead and 
wounded. The woods were strewn with friend and 
foe. 

At midnight the order of Smith and Mower was, 
"Go into line of battle at 4 o'clock!" but at 2 o'clock 
the order was, "Fall in retreat!" Silently and sullen- 
ly, but not without murmuring, did the men start on 
the retreat, to leave their dead and wounded to fall 
into the hands of the enemy. But the retreating ad- 
vance of the 19th Corps and the trains and cavalry 
were then at Grand E'Core. thirty -six miles away, 
having been ordered back by Gen. Banks on the 
morning before the battle. 

The next day the enemy sent in a flag of truce, 
asking permission to bury their dead, but were as- 
tonished to find no one to receive it. It was two 
armies running away from each other. We were not 
retreating from a well organized army flushed with 
victory, as the 13th and 19th Corps had done after 
Sabine cross roads; but so far as the troops of Smith 
and Mower were concerned, it was a well organized 
army, officers and men having each full and complete 
confidence in the other, retreating from a beaten and 
retreating foe. 

Owing to the marching' and want of rest, men 
were becoming worn out. The morning passed slow- 
ly. Our haversacks contained no breakfast. "We 
and rations had not met.*' Banks had ordered them 
all to Grand E'Core, but Smith swore that ours should 
not go, and they didn't go quite. The sun was well 
up in the heavens; the line was moving up a long 
hill; the boys were feeling tired and feeling the 
gnawings of hunger. On looking up they saw a man 
on a sorrel pony, and another horseman behind him 
coming back. It was Quartermaster McCall, and his 
commissary, Clark Fuller, issuing rations of hard 
tack. That hard tack tasted good. 

We marched about twenty miles that day. and 
many of our men became very tired and began to lag. 
After getting started. Col. Scott got off his horse, 
tucked his pants into his boots, walked back along- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 143 

the line, and finding a man badly worn out, got him 
in an ambulance, another on a wagon, and finally got 
all the worst provided for but one, and taking him 
by the shoulder stuck him on his own horse, and then 
walking along with the boys, he said, "Come on, boys, 
we will do the best we can." 

The next day, being in the rear, the enemy's 
cavalry made a clash upon us. They appeared to 
have just found out that we were retreating. In the 
afternoon we had considerable skirmishing and were 
much harrassed by their cavalry, but reached Grand 
E'Core in the evening. The regiment was then sent 
out on picket. Poor rest for the tired soldier. The 
next day we received a mail, it being the first news 
from home since before leaving Vicksburg — thirty- 
four days. Our previous mails had been captured 
by the enemy. The rebels getting sixteen sacks when 
they captured the steamer, "City Belle." 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



Battle op Pleasant Hill; As Seen Prom Differ- 
ent Stand points by Members of The 
o!2nd Iowa Volunteers. 

The preceding chapter gives the facts in rela- 
tion to Pleasant Hill as seen and remembered by 
Sergeant Boyd. He has embodied in his narrative 
some of the recollections of other witnesses, and 
some matters gleaned from published records. But 
as there was much controversy, greatly conflicting 
testimony, and some bitterness, unpleasant memories 
of which still remain, the Historian believes it his 
duty to supplement the .story of Sergeant Boyd with 



144 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

a portion of other testimony that has come into his 
hands. The separate facts narrated by these wit- 
nesses are consistent with independent testimony as 
given by others, and it is hoped that taken together 
they will throw a light upon the subject that will en- 
able the unprejudiced to give due credit to the men 
in the command of Gen. A. J. Smith, — to the Iowa 
Regiments, — to Shaw's Brigade, — and especially to 
the 32nd Iowa Volunteers. 

Comrade £. V. Moore, of Company I, who kept 
a diary, and in 1894 was Post Master at Benkelman, 
Nebraska, says: 

'•At the time of the advance of the enemy upon 
our lines I was on the skirmish line with others, about 
forty rods in advance of the Regiment. Some rebel 
officers showed themselves in our front, on the op- 
posite side of the open field. I fired at them, and 
they immediately disappeared in the brush. In a 
few minutes the enemy's cavalry came out of the 
timber at the same spot, and formed for a charge. 
Almost at the same moment their infantry opened 
upon our Regiment, across the corner of the open 
field, to our left front, which was sufficient hint for 
the skirmishers to fall back. This was done in some 
haste, after delivering their fire, — from which two of 
the enemy fell. 

The cavalry charge upon the right of our bri- 
gade very soon followed. * * * 

On reaching the Company I dropped into a shal- 
low and dry depression, and while regaining my 
wind I heard the sharp crack of a rifle,saw the smoke 
rise from a tree-top, heard a thud in my rear, and 
glancing back saw Mathias Hutchinson sink back, 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 145 

without a groan. His father went to him, raised his 
head, but immediately laid it down, saying— "He is 
dead!" I think he was shot through the heart. 

After the first repulse of the enemy he 
was carried back, I think by Geo, Williams and James 
Baldridge. 

In all the charges on our line after the death of 
his son Captain Hutchinson encouraged us by his 
voice and his example, taking no thought for him- 
self. When the last charge had been repulsed, and 
the enemy had passed us in strong force on both our 
flanks, Colonel Scott came to Captain H. and told 
him we were completely cut off from the main body 
of our army, and asked if he had any suggestions. 
Captain H. replied. 'Let us stay right here !' ' 



Comrade Rollin P. Mead, of Company E, now a 
farmer near Aplington, Iowa, says: — 

•'I was wounded in my right arm at Pleasant 
Hill, and managed to reach the hospital, about two 
miles to the rear of our line, where my arm was tak- 
en off at the shoulder during the evening. In the 
latter part of the night I was told our army was go- 
ing to retreat. I got up and tried to get a place in 
an ambulance, and was told there was no chance for 
me. Determined that I would not go to rebel prison 
I walked till after sunrise, and with a few miles on 
an amunition wagon the first day, and an ambulance 
the second day, I got to Grand E'Core." 



Comrade Edwin Nichols, of Company B, now a 



146 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

farmer near Clear Lake, Iowa, says: — 

"On the 9th of April, 1864, was called up about 3 
a.m., took our coffee and hard-tack, and while wait- 
ing for something better to do a pack of cards was 
brought out by some one, and we set dow T n to a game 
of poker. The stakes were grains of corn, not repre 
sentingany particular value. When the day was 
ended I was the only one of the ten in that game that, 
answered the roll-call. 

As we went to the place assigned us in the ex- 
treme front, on the road to Mansfield, we met many 
of the troops who had been driven back the previous 
afternoon. They encouraged ( ?) us by expressions 
of sympathy, advice, and prophecy; telling us that 
those who lived to return would travel faster on the 
return trip, and that we had better send word to our 
sweet-hearts now, while able to do so, and much 
more of the same sort. * * * We took 
our position, and soon saw many signs of an approach- 
ing battle. The noise, smoke, and smell of powder 
burning, made me wish that the General in command 
would think it necessary to have a bottle of water 
out of the Atlantic Ocean, and would detail me to 
bring it. I am sure I could have got ready to start 
within thirty-days! * * After the skirmish 
line was called in I felt that it was the other fellow 
who was in danger. * * 

All through the day we expected an attack at 
any moment, but about four o'clock the fire of the 
skirmishers and sharp-shooters slacked up, and many 
of us began to think the enemy was retiring. Just 
then Colonel Scott passed along the line, and when 
near our company said, — "Boys, if they come to-day 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 147 

they will be here within half an hour." James Tur- 
ner then said he would take our three-quart pail and 
make some coffee at a fire in the rear of the line. 
After the fight was over he found three balls had 
gone through the pail. 

The Colonel was right as to the time they would 
pitch in. The skirmish line was called 

in. Then came the cavalry charge. It 

looked as though we would not furnish a mouthful 
apiece for them. But they went down, falling in all 
directions, there was no time for fool- 

ing, the infantry followed up, 

the other Regiments of our brigade fell back, and 
the rebels followed them, passing about four rods to 
our right, and on to the rear. 

It was wonderful that any thing could live in such 
a storm of iron and lead. A ball struck the ground 
and filled my face with dirt; another took a bit of 
skin from the knuckle of my right fore finger; an- 
other pulled the hair over my left; and another lodg 
ed in the rolled blanket on my shoulder. 

Adjutant Huntley stood near me when Colonel 
Scott directed him carry the word to Col. Gilbert 
and Col. Shaw that the enemy was passing our left 
in heavy force. Huntley delivered the message, and 
fell as he was returning to his place. Lieutenant 
Howard stood with his left hand against a small 
tree, his sword in his right, the point resting on the 
ground. He soon fell. Jacob G. Brown was at my 
left; Wilbur Hoytwas behind him; and John P. Ford 
was behind me. All of them were killed. Hoyt was 
shot after we had fallen back to a log that seemed to 
offer some shelter, but the balls soon struck the log 



148 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

fi'om the rear, showing that we had the enemy on all 
sides of us. After the fighting- was 

over, and it was quite dark, Quartermaster McCall 
asked two of us to go with him to help our wounded 
on the field. He carried a lantern, and when we 
reached a guard under charge of a Major from Maine 
the light was ordered to be blown out, and though 
we could hear the moans of the dying in our front 
nothing could be done for them. This was more 
dreadful than the thickest of the battle ! As our re 
treat began before daylight, next morning, we never 
saw or heard our dying comrades again!" 



Comrade W. H. Guy, now an influential citizen of 
Granola. Kansas, and who was then acting orderly 
Sergeant of Company E, says: - 

Early in the morning of April 9th, I 
learned that during the latter part of the night that 
portion of Bank's army which had been engaged the 
previous day were retreating about as promiscuously 
as the soldiers had done at Bull Run. This was not 
stimulating news; and the remark of General A. J. 
Smith, as he sat on his horse, while we marched by 
on the Mansfield road, was very welcome. He said 
in his positive way, — "Boys, remember where you 
belong!" About 4 p. m., that most des- 

perate battle of Pleasant Hill began. 
The Cavalry charge was repulsed. Out 

of the woods beyond the open field came the rebel 
Infantry, their guns at right shoulder. - A 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 149 

volley from our line hurled them back. Forming 
again they found an opening on our left, and passed 
through. In the progress of the battle I was captur- 
ed, and with some ten others was hurried from the 
field, and met a rebel battery coming into the fight, 
and cheering at their apparent success. When about 
half way across the open field we heard the roar of 
the guns of Gen. A. J. Smith, and before we reached 
the woods we saw that the rebels were following the 
example Banks' troops had set the day previous, and 
were going to the rear. We were hurried back six 
miles and camped in the dusty road. Next morning 
we were pushed on to Mansfield, passing many of 
our dead of the day previous, naked and unburied." - 

Sergeant Guy and Lieutenant Fallis effected 
their escape, at Mansfield, and made their wav to the 
Regiment at Grand Ecore, eight days after the bat- 
tle. 



Captain Michael Ackerman, of Company A, now 
Clerk of Courts at Howard, South Dakota, and who 
was left on the field, terribly wounded, and without 
other notice for more than twenty-eight hours than 
that of the rebels who robbed the dead and wounded, 
says: — 

"Late in the evening of April 8, in the camp 
among the old graves. -some of us were discussing- 
the defeat of our troops in the advance, and their de- 



150 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

moralized condition as they came into our lines. In 
this party were Lieutenant Col. Mix, Captains Miller 
and Peebles, Lieutenant Howard, myself and others. 
Colonel Mix, looking up, said: "There, 1 see the 
moon over my right shoulder. It is a good omen for 
me. I need not fret." Within twenty -four hours 
Colonel Mix lay dead on the field of the hard-fought 
battle; Miller, Peebles, and Howard, were mortally 
wounded; and I was left for dead, with my left knee 
and right hip crushed by the bullets that fell among 
us like hail upon the house lop. My Company went 
into line of battle with thirty-four men, only five of 
whom answered the next roll-call; and half the Regi- 
ment was wiped out! 

I fell near the close of the engagement, and soon 
after the Regiment left the field it had so gallantly 
and despeiately held, I was stripped of my outer 
clothing. One ef these vultures thrust his hand into 
my pocket, but drew it out covered with my blood, 
and with an oath left $85.00 there, which no doubt 
subsequently saved my life. 

I rolled into a ditch near me to escape the still 
fast falling bullets, and about mid-night was helped 
out by a rebel chaplain, who was trying to care for 
the wounded. I crawled to a fire, was soon asleep, 
and did not wake till the sun was high in the heav- 
ens. Some one had thrown a dog-tent over me to 
shield me from the sun. John Talbott, Company A. 
came to me. Aminnieball had entered his mouth, 
cut off his tongue, and passed through his neck. The 
poor boy could not speak or eat, and at the end of 
about nine days died of starvation. 

Looking about, where the day previous we stood 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 151 

in the strength of manhood, the ground was all stewn 
with dead and wounded that it seemed that one could 
step from one to another as far as I could see, with- 
out touching the ground. Here and there a group 
of wounded were gathered about little fires that had 
been kindled by those able to partly help themsel- 
ves. 

About 9 o'clock that evening Captain Miller and 
myself were taken in an ambulance to a log house, 
and placed on the floor with a single blanket under 
us. Robert Mack, of my company, and eight or ten 
others were with us. We were in this house four 
days before we were discovered by the Surgeons 
who had been left to care for us, — they having two 
hospitals that required their continuous attention, 
and we were over-looked. We had had nothing to 
eat after the battle, except four crackers that Cap- 
tain Miller bad saved, of which he and I each ate 
one. That night, April 11th, Captain Miller died, 
He was shot through the bowels, knew his wound 
was mortal, and was brave and cheerful to the last 
minute. He left no message with me, for neither of 
us had any thought that I would live to deliver it. 

While we were thus unattended by the Surgeons, 
and were left to dress our wounds with water and our 
under clothing, torn up for bandages, George Mack, 
who was wounded in the shoulder, the ball lodging 
under the shoulder-blade, came to me with an old, 
rusty knife, and asked me to cut out the ball. The 
knife was so dull I could not operate with it. so he 
went and whetted it on a stone, and came to me again. 
Mjr nerves and strength were not equal to the butch- 
ery, so begot other assistance, and am happy to say 



152 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

he prospered finely. 

I was removed after four days to another hospit- 
al, and placed on a blanket with Captain Peebles. He 
was shot through the knee, and his leg had been al- 
ready taken off. Lieutenant Howard died before I 
was taken to the hospital. Captain Peebles appear- 
ed to be doing well, but about eight days later I was 
awaked by his singing and praying, and found him 
quite wild, and tearing at his wound. I called the 
surgeon, but he had lost so much blood that he died 
before morning. 

There were about three hundred men in there 
hospitals, and they were supplied as food three ket- 
tles of musty corn meal, mixed with water, with a 
piece of bloody beef in it, and scarcely more than 
warmed through. It was not wounds that killed our 
men. The wonder is that any survived. 

Prom time to time convalescents were sent on to 
the prison at Tyler, Texas. Others died. After out- 
numbers were thus reduced we had more attention, 
and more and better prepared food, but the condi- 
tions were still so deplorable that death was a wel- 
come release to those to whom it came, 

But I forbear to tell of the sufferings and death 
of the poor fellows who went under, and turn to the 
more pleasing theme of the ministrations of the wife 
of a rebel officer who lived in the neighborhood, a 
Mrs. Cole, who came every week with such supplies 
as her home afforded, the tears running down her 
cheeks as she looked upon the starving men she 
could not feed! Of the two army 

wagons loaded with sanitary stores, that came under 
a flag of truce, and for which the women at home 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 153 

have our blessings as long as we may live. 
And of things which my bloody money bought at the 
rate of one dollar for a chicken, one dollar per doz- 
en for eggs, and four dollars per pound for tobacco. 
And of our parole, about June 17th, and 
a trip of seventeen miles in carts and jolting wagons 
to the boat on Red River, - and of 

the opium and Louisiana rum the doctor gave me on 
the road, and how the entire fifty -two 

who started from Pleasant Hill that June morning, 
all reached New Orleans !" 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Battle of Pleasant Hill; Testimony of Hon 

H. N. Brockway, Hon. W. V. Allen. 

W. P, Hiserodt, Corporal Robbins, 

and D. S. Jewett; of The 

82nd Iowa Volunteers 



Judge Brockway, at date of Battle of Pleasant 
Hill, was a Sergeant in Company B. He became 
Captain of the Company by promotion. He wrote 
at request of Adjutant General Baker an account of 
that battle, which was published in The Picket Guard 
in 1867. The following extracts from that article 
will interest the comrades: — 

Late in the morning of the 8th the command ar- 



l. r )4 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

rived at Pleasant Hill, and early on the morning of 
the 9th, was marched out to the relief of that part of 
the army which had been so disastrously repulsed 
the day before. In the battle of Pleasant Hill the 
brigade to which the 32nd Iowa was attached occupi- 
ed the-Union centre, and the 32nd was on the left of 
the brigade. Company B, with Captain Miller as 
ranking Captain holding the right of the regiment. 
About four o'clock p. in. a tremendous cannonade 
was opened opon our lines, followed soon after by a 
cavalry charge. This was so fatally repulsed, that 
scarce one of them returned to their lines. The 
credit of this belongs chiefly to the 14th Iowa. Then 
came on the infantry, in solid column, with reckless 
darim, marching with their guns at right shoulder 
shift, until they arrived at the crest of a hill about 
twenty rods in front of our line. At the command to 
fire they melted away. Again and again they rallied, 
aided by fresh troops, and came on with fierce yells 
to the charge, but each time were driven back from 
our front. The troops on our left gave way. and 
the enemy, getting into our rear, opened a galling tire 
from that quarter. 

At this time, Col. Scott came down the regiment 
from the extreme left, and ordered Adjutant C. H. 
Huntley (formerly a private in Company B, and at 
that time fighting with a musket with the company.) 
to report to Col. Gilbert (commanding the 27th Iowa, 
next on our right) that he was flanked, and whatever 
was done must be in concert with him. Adjutant 
Huntley started on his errand, and was never after- 
wards seen by any of the command. 

Just about this time, the right of the brigade 
was forced back, and orders were given to retire, but 
no orderly could reach us, as the enemy were too 
thick in our rear. .When the 27th Iowa commenced 
falling back, Capt. Miller called to Lieut. Colonel 
Mix, that the 27th Iowa were going away. The men 
were becoming alarmed, for the enemy were entering 
the woods on the right. Col. Mix noticed it, and re- 
plied in a loud voice, "No, they are going back for 
ammunition; they will be up again soon. Give it to 
them boys!' These were almost the last words the 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 



155 



old hero ever uttered. A moment afterwards he 
gave command for the right of the regiment to swing 
round to the rear and present a front to the right, 
and while the manoeuvre was being executed, he re- 
ceived a ball through the body, killing him almost 
instantly. 




Hon. 11. N. Brockway. 

About the same time Captain Miller was shot 
from the right, through the body, and fell. Four 
men of the company instantly went to carry him to a 
little ditch just in the rear of the company. They 
picked him up as he lay, face downward, when he 
ordered them to lay him down and go to their duty. 
After the battle he was taken to afield hospital. where 
lie died. The company was now without an officer 
higher than .Sergeant; Captain Miller and Lieutenant 



156 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Howard both mortally wounded. Lieutenant Griffin 
captured, and Sergeants Barr, Brock way, Goodell 
and Wood wounded — the two last mortally. The 
command devolved upon Sergeant Henry Keerl. Still 
the men fought on till completely surrounded and at 
close quarters, when an order was given to move out 
by the left flank. Just as this was done our reserves 
under A. J. Smith charged the enemy and drove them 
from the field. 

It is an undeniable fact, that the stubborn fight- 
ing of the brigade commanded by Colonel Shaw, 
composed of the 24th Missouri and the 14th. 27th 
and 32nd Iowa regiments, saved the day, and with it 
Gen. Banks, entire army. Had the center given way 
after both win^s had been driven in, and before the 
troops could be rallied and new lines formed, the day 
would have been irretrievably lost, and the entire 
army captured. It was Shiloh fought over again, 
though on a smaller scale, and here, as there. Iowa 
turned defeat into victory. Company B went into 
the fight w T ith three commissioned officers, five Ser- 
geants, five corporals and thirty-six privates, and 
came out with one Sergeant, three Corporals and 
fourteen privates. The regiment lost in killed, 
wounded and missing, 219. Captain Miller was 
brave, but not rash, a strict disciplinarian, and a pol- 
ished, courteous gentleman. In him, the regiment 
lost an able officer, and Iowa one of her noblest sons. 



Hon. W. V. Allen, now representing the State of 
Nebraska in the Senate of the United States, was 
then a private soldier in Company G. He was but a 
boy, one of the youngest members of the Regiment. 
He was at one time invited to write a history of the 
Regiment, and probably made some progress in that 
direction. The present Historian has met with and 



IOWA VO L U N'T E KKS 



157 



preserved a brief clipping from a newspaper, and as 
it relates to this battle it is here given. Comrade 
Allen says: — 




Hon. W. V. Allen. 

The cloud of smoke from our guns 
hung for a moment in the breeze produced by the 
concussion of our minnie balls, as if half in doubt to 
arise or fall, but finally chinking better of the mat- 
ter, arose, revealing to us the sickening sight of his 
troops, riders and horses, lying in a promiscuous 
heap of dead and dying, their warm life-blood form- 
ing little pools which uniting ran away in streams, 
while the pitiful neighing of the dying horses and 
the sorrowful cries and appeals of the dying soldier 
for help — '"water, water, water," — mingled in sorrow- 



158 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

ful and unutterable confusion. It was a sight to 
make the soul sick and the similitude of which one 
wants to see but once in a lifetime and them shut out 
all rememberance of the vision forever. While we 
were contemplating- this sad picture there debouched 
from the opposite wood three strong lines of infantry, 
the splendid divisions of Churchill, Parsons and Ma- 
jors, with wings spread out like a great fan. Their 
bayonets were fixed ready for use and they carried 
their guns at a right shoulder shift. It was our time 
to turn pale. There were three of them to one of us 
— three strong lines to our single line. They broke 
forth in the ''rebel yell*' so much talked of these lat- 
ter days. The rebel yell was simply a cheer from 
fine-voiced men, a light, piercing noise, like the call 
of a woman made at a long distance. It differed from 
the cheer of our men in the fact that the latter was 
heavier, heartier and more uniform. They brushed 
aside our skirmishers and dropped their guns to the 
position of a charue. They were to fall upon and 
crush in our center by the fury of their assault and the 
mere machine strength of their numbers, while other 
portions of their army were to envelop, overlap and 
crush our flanks, and thus rout if not capture our en- 
tire army. Their success the day previous had made 
this, to their mind:-, not an impossible feat, and they 
had been stimulated for this trial by the liberal use 
of a drink composed of Louisana rum and gun -pow- 
der, giving them an abnormal courage, as the doc- 
trine of the transmigration of the soul gave to the 
Dacian soldiers an unnatural courage in their wars 
with Rome. 

Banks, always fruitful in blunders, and doubly 
so on this occasion, had sent back to Grand Ecore a 
large part of the Thirteenth corps and all our caval- 
ry, except the brigade of Col. O. P. Gooding, which 
being roughly handled early in the tight, was unfit 
for offensive service when needed; so that when the 
enemy struck us in full force and in earnest with his 
assaulting columns we were weakened fully one 
fourth by this reduction of our numbers. 

Men in war as in peace endeavor to preserve 
their lives when they can do so consistently with a 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 159 

full discharge of their duties, and we were ordered to 
shield ourselves as best we could from the enemy's 
tire and reserve our own tire until he approached 
within a few rods of us. The chivalrous Shaw was 
at his best. His usually dull eye kindled with an 
unnatural tire and his usually homely countenance 
grew almost beautiful in contemplation of the death 
struggle that was at hand. He rode along the line 
giving his orders as cooly as if on dress parade. "Aim 
low, boys, aim low; it is better to wound them than 
to kill, for it will take two good men to carry a 
wounded man from the field," he said. Above the 
din of the gathering storm again rang out the voice 
of Shaw as the rebels approached us. "Fix bayo- 
nets!" he said, and in an instant every man's bayo- 
net was fixed and ready for use. The rebels were 
upon us. The noise of sixteen hundred Springfield 
rifles rang out in unison as 1600 minne balls sped in- 
to the enemy's ranks to do their work of death and 
destruction. He was stung and stopped, but rallied 
and again renewed the assault with additional fury. 
Another stinging volley thrown full and fair into his 
ranks caused the enemy to reel and stagger like a 
drunken man, but he rallied to renew the attack. 
Each assault brought him nearer to our line and each 
assault reduced the number of assailants and assail- 
ed, by death and wounds. The assault was repeated, 
and another made, this time along parts of the line 
the bayonet was brought into use, but each assault 
was repulsed with great loss of life and limb on both 
sides. So the fighting went on at other parts of the 
field. Oar right wing was crushed in and driven 
back to the reserves and this made it necessary to 
retire Shaw's brigade a distance to keep a connected 
line. The order was given and the Twenty -fourth 
Missouri, Fourteenth and Twenty-seventh Iowa drew 
back, but Adjutant Charlie Huntley, brave as a lion 
and mild as a woman, while bringing the order to 
the Thirty-second Iowa was killed, and the order 
never reached the regiment. Having previous or- 
ders to hold the position at all hazzards there was 
but one thing for Col. Scott to do and that was to 
hold his position unless rescued from him by the en- 



160 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

emy. A regiment at our left had been withdrawn 
leaving both flanks of the regiment exposed. For 
fully an hour, this regiment, single handed and alone, 
was fighting ten times its number. Everywhere, in 
front, on the flanks and in the rear, the contest raged 
with great fury and was attended with great loss of 
life. 

Nowhere in ancient or modern warfare can be 
found an instance of more heroism than was exhibit- 
ed on this occasion. Up to this time the enemy had 
been the assailant, but now that he was weakened 
and reduced the time came for us to take the offensive. 
Let the correspondent of the New York Herald, then 
at Banks' headquarters, and never friendly to west- 
ern troops, tell the remainder of the story: — 

'•General Smith made all preparations to receive 
the advancing foe; and as the human tide came roll- 
ing up the hill, he looked quietly on until the enemy 
were almost up to the muzzles of his guns, when a 
sheet of flame flashed along his lines, and, with the 
crash of ten thousand thunders, musket balls mingl- 
ed with grape and canister, swept the plain like a- 
besom of destruction. Hundreds fell dead and dying 
before that awful fire. Scarcely had the seething 
lead left the guns when the word "Charge!" was giv- 
en, and 7,000 men precipitated themselves upon the 
shattered ranks of the enemy. Emery's division, 
which had only yielded to superior numbers, and re- 
mained unbroken, was pushed forward and joined 
the Sixteenth corps, driving the rebels rapidly down 
the hill to the woods, where they broke and fled in 
the greatest confusion and dismay. Col. Benedict, 
while gallantly leading- his brigade in the charge. fell 
dead, pierced by five balls. 

The battle was fought, and the victory won. Our 
troops followed the rebels until night put an end to 
the pursuit. 

In the last charge, we recaptured Taylor's bat- 
tery, which had been lost in the earlier part of the 
action, and retook two guns of Nim's battery, which 
had been lost in the battle of the preceding day. The 
10 pound Parrott gun which the rebels captured last 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



161 



fall (1863) at Carrion Crow, was taken. 

Five hundred prisoners, all the dead and wounded, 
three battle standards, and a large number of small 
arms, fell into our hands. 

Our victorious army slept upon the battle-field, 
which was one of the bloodiest of the war." And this 
correspondent might have added with truth and pro- 
priety, that the rebels retreated a distance of ten 
miles that night before going into camp. 

Thus closed one of the most sanguinary engage- 
ments known in the history of warfare, and Banks' 
army, which had been routed the day previous, was 
saved from further disaster. The rebels were not 
only defeated, but they were routed and completely 
demoralized. 



Comrade W. P. Hiserodt, Company A, in Febru- 
ary 1894, about six months before his death, wrote 
quite a full account of his experiences in army life 
No one ever doubted the Corporal s courage, or cool- 
ness in the moment of danger. He gives some de- 
tails not stated by others. The following extracts 
relate to Pleasant Hill: — 

The Confederate cavalry charged our 
battery - - but they nearly all went down. 
Next came their infantry, flushed with their victories 
of two days previous, and the contents of their can- 
teens,! whiskey and gunpowder,) making a desperate 
charge. The lines on our right and left were bro- 
ken,' and Lieutenant Col. Mix ordered us back. As 
we started in retreat Colonel Scott came down the 
line, biting at a hard -tack, cool as a clam, and order- 
ed us to hold our ground. I am proud to say that 
Company A faced about and took the position before 
occupied, and there stayed like "the boy that stood 
on the burning deck," with the dead and wounded 



162 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



piled around them. - Capt. Acker- 

man fell badly wounded: Lieutenant Hull was killed; 
and finally I, a corporal, was in com- 
mand of the Company. 

Al out sunset a squad of rebels came on us from 








WM. P. HlbERODT. 

the rear, with Serjeant Doane and some others as- 
prisoners. I ordered our men to fire, but Doane lold 
us to surrender, which we did. The whole rebel 
army was then retreating. 



Corporal D. W. Robbins, Company D. now a re- 
tired merchant of Colorado Springs, at one time 



TOW A VOLUNTEERS 163 

Mayor of that pleasant city, has taken pains to re- 
visit the battle-ground of April 9th 1864, and to col- 
lect and preserve many relics, and to record many 
incidents of the battle. He has kindly written of 
these things from his winter home, at San Diego, 
California. The comrades are also indebted to him 
for the rough draft from which the map of the battle- 
ground is drawn. He procured this to be made by a 
person familiar with the scene at the time of the bat- 
tle, and it may be relied upon as approximately cor- 
rect. 

Corporal Robbins found in 1891 the old field that 
lay in front of the line of the 32nd Iowa had changed 
to a forest of pines; many of the trees being from 
twelve to eighteen inches in diameter. Other parts 
of the battle ground were ecpjally changed. The vil- 
lage of Pleasant Hill has been abandoned; the small- 
er buildings having been removed, and the larger 
ones having fallen into ruins. A railroad now runs 
between Shreveport and New Orleans, passing about 
two miles south of the battlefield, the nearest station 
being named Sodus, but retaining Pleasant Hill as 
the name of the post-office. 

Corporal Robbins remained in that neighborhood 
several days, picking up things that had for him 
particular interest. He cut some bullets from a tree 
that stood in the rear of the position occupied by his 
company, cutting to a depth of six to eight inches for 
them; and also cut some sticks for canes. He found 
and secured possession of relics that had been picked 
up by others, and has them among his ti'easures at 
Colorado Springs. 

In his reminiscences of the battle he speaks of 



164 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



the demoralized troops of Banks passing to the rear, 
"many of them hare-headed, and many having thrown 
away their guns," which were met hy the 32nd Iowa 
when taking position to check the pursuing foe. He 
saw Lieut. Col. Mix fall, and heard him say "I am 
killed!" It also appears that when the right of tt e 
Regiment began to fall back, noting the withdrawal 




D. W. Robbins. 
of tl e 27th Iowa, that the movement 'extended to 
Company D, and when checked by Colonel Scott, as 
being without orders, only a part of the men of that 
Company heard the order and resumed the former 
position; -in which they remained till they were 
captured, failing to receive the order to- move out 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 165 

by the left flank, at the close of the battle. 

Robbins says it was reported among the rebels, 
and told to the prisoners, that of the bold riders who 
rushed upon our brigade at the opening of the battle, 
only twenty-six reported for duty the next morning. 

After meeting the rebel battery that was rush- 
ing to this dance of death the prisoners met Gen. 
Kirby Smith, who inquired to what troops they be- 
longed, and on being told he remarked that he knew 
very well that they were not the sort they had met 
the day before. As they passed to the rear they saw 
many of those killed in the battle of the 8th, lying 
where they fell, and so covered with the dust raised 
by the troops that they could hardly be recognized 
as human beings. 

For personal memoranda and incidents of prison 
life, see appendix. 



But one more witness from the ranks of the 32nd 
Iowa will be called. Sergeant D. S. Jewett, Com- 
pany D, in February 1866, furnished by request to 
the Boone County Index a narrative of his capture and 
escape from rebel imprisonment. Often in private 
conversation he described the demoralized condition 
of the enemy during the first few miles of their re- 
treat, in which by mere force of overpowering num- 
bers they swept him and others of the 32nd Iowa in- 
to captivity because those on the extreme right 
failed to receive the order to move out by the left 
flank. The men were directed to pass this order 



166 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

along to the right, and when sufficient time for this had 
elapsed the movement began, Colonel Scott going in 
advance of the brave remnant, to warn any friends 
we might meet, and thus avoid any mistaken fire 
from our own troops. It afterwards appeared that 
for some cause, — perhaps a break in the line, — this 
order never reached the brave fellows in D, A, and 
B, who still fought on until carried away by the 
routed rebels. Sergeant JeweU says: — 

Our Regiment (32nd Iowa) was stationed near 
the centre of the first line. The attack was commenc- 
ed about 4 o'clock p. m. April 9th, by a charge on our 
right by a regiment of Texas cavalry, which resulted 
in their almost entire annihilation. However, heavy 
• columns of rebel infantry were discovered advancing 
toward us; on they came over the bodies of their fal- 
len friends and formed their line in spite of the mur- 
derous fire that was beinLC poured into them from our 
death-dealing rifle muskets, and then the battle be- 
gan to rage with inconceivable fury.- — By some means 
or other, both our flanks were turned, and we, igno- 
rant of the momentary retreat that was going on 
throughout our whole front line remained on the 
ground, and the fire, extending around both Hanks. 
was soon poured with equal fury in the rear. Prompt- 
ly my comrades stood their ground in this valley of 
death, and with equal promptness did the enemy 
continue to pour in his destructive tire upon us; one 
by one the muskets of my companions erased to re- 
spond, as the deadly projectiles of our foes placed 
them beyond the reach of worldly cares. Corporal 
Pettibone, one of the bravest men I ever saw was 
near me; now and then I would hear his voice encour- 
aging his friends to fight to the death, but it finally 
ceased; some rebel marksman had sent a bullet crash- 
ing through his brain. About sundown I heard loud 
voices on my right commanding somebody to surren- 
der. Thinking that 1 recognized the voice of our 
Colonel. I paid no attention to it at the moment, but 
fired one more shot at a rebel officer that I saw in 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 167 

front. Soon afterwards, however, on looking around. 
I discovered that the rebels and not our own men, were 
the captors and all my friends on my right were 
prisoners. I looked to the left for the regiment; it 
was gone, and for the first time, I became aware that 
I had been only keeping company with the dead. — 
My foes were now upon me; two muskets were level- 
ed at my breast and I was allowed to choose between 
instant death and immediate surrender with plenty 
of hard treatment and a good share of starvation in 
prospective. I decided in favor of the latter; my En- 
field was taken from me, and I was put along with 
the other prisoners of whom Sergeant Miller and 
seven others of Company D and fourteen of Company 
A formed a part, and we were hurried to the rear un- 
der a strong guard. The roar of musketry gradually 
died away in the distance, and before midnight, we 
found ourselves six miles on our way to Mansfield in 
an open Held, still surrounded by a strong guard, in 
which position, we were permitteded to lie down and 
sleep till morning. As many of us had lost our 
blankets during the tight, we were ill prepared to en- 
joy this privilege to its full extent. At early dawn 
we were aroused and pushed forward toward Mans- 
field, which place we reached about noon. 



CHAPTER XX. 



Pleasant Hill; Official Documents. 



A significant fact is seen when it is noted that 
none of the Official Reports of commanders of troops 
in this battle were made out before April 12th. The 
10th and 11th were occupied in the retrograde move- 
ment on Grand Ecore. These two days and nights 
were full of sorrow and anger for those of Shaw's 
Brigade who were compelled to abandon the victory 



168 THIUTY SECOND REGIMENT 

they had won, leaving their dead and wounded un- 
cared for. This was an especial grief to the 32nd 
Iowa, whose loss was greater than that of all the rest of 
the army aside from that in their own Brigade! But 
on the 12th, when the official Reports of Colonel 
Scott and Captain Jones (of the 14th Iowa) are dated, 
their just anger was directed against those who were 
supposed to have blundered rather than sinned. 
Their Reports of the Battle were therefore only plain 
statements of the part taken by their own commands, 
made in the customary form, and not to supply the 
omissions and controvert the falsehoods of others. 

When the newspapers from New Orleans were 
received a few days later, with the voluminous cor- 
respondence from Banks' headquarters, comprising 
whole pages of the large dailies of that city, and 
boasting of the victory Banks and his Eastern troops 
had won, in all of which the Western troops were ut- 
terly ignored, the feeling of our men may better be 
imagined than described! Such base jealousy, and 
injustice among men of the same army is quite in- 
credible; yet in those reports the name of Iowa was 
not even mentioned! In the list of casualties the 
sacrifice of Lieut. Colonel Mix of the 32nd Iowa was 
credited to New York! Being the first published ac- 
counts these statements would be read with avidity, 
and accepted as true. The despatches to other cities 
were based on these publications, and the Iowa sol- 
diers had not even the poor consolation of finding 
their names wrongly spelled in the list of casualties; 
— they were not mentioned at all! 

In Colonel Scott's Report nothing is said of the 
repulse of the rebel cavalry, though that incident is 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 169 

prominent in most of the accounts as given by others. 
The cavalry charge was directed against the right 
center of the Brigade, the brunt of it falling upon the 
14th Iowa. It was within full view of the entire 
Brigade, and was met in part by the fire of the right 
of the 82nd Iowa, but at almost the same moment the 
rebel infantry charged upon the left of the 32nd 
Iowa, and in the next minute our whole line was hot- 
ly engaged. Events followed each other more quick- 
ly than the story can be told; and in such events, for 
the moment, time is not noted. The supreme effort 
is the attack, or its repulse, and while that is in 
doubt all else is unimportant. 

The report of Colonel Gilbert is dated on the 
17th. By that time he should have known the 32nd 
Iowa, on his left, had not retired, "leaving that flank 
greatly exposed,'' when he received orders from Col. 
Shaw to fall back, about half-past five o'clock. 

It is not deemed necessary to load this volume 
with official Reports that do not relate directly to the 
part taken by the 32nd Iowa. There are voluminous 
Reports in reference to the action of other troops, 
and some of them relate to circumstances in which 
this Regiment had a vital interest, some of which 
Reports are true.while many are false or over-drawn, 
and calculated to mislead. Some of these documents 
are well calculated to excite the derision of many 
brave and modest men who witnessed the real facts 
to which these bombastic screeds purport to relate; 
but to insert them here simply to refute them, or to 
hold them up to ridicule, were an unprofitable task. 
More or less reference may be made to them in a 



170 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

general review of the entire battle, in a future chap- 
ter. 



Report of Colonel John Scott, Commanding 32d 
Iowa Infantry. 



Grand Ecore. La , April 12, 1864. 

Col. Wm, T. Shaw, Commanding Brigade: — 

My position in line being on the extreme left of 
the brigade, was supported on the right by the other 
regiments of the brigade, and more immediately by 
the 27th Iowa Infantry. My left, for some reason 
still unknown to me, was without support, though 
threatened, and might be considered a key to the 
whole position. 

[ rested in the edge of a wood, in the rear of an 
old field which extended half a mile to my front, and 
across which my skirmishers occasionally exchanged 
shots with the enemy's pickets, throughout the day. 
but without casualty to my command. Our line was 
at right angles to the Mansfield road, and about one 
mile from the village of Pleasant Hill. About four 
o'clock p. m., the activity of the enemy's skirmishers 
increased, and in a short time he advanced across 
the open space in our front, in heavy force, moving 
in column by battalion, deploying as he advanced. 
My skirmishers w 7 ere recalled, and my left company, 
which had been thrown forward, and to the left, to 
cover my exposed flank, was forced back with some 
loss, and took its proper position in the line. 

The fire of my command was reserved until the 
enemy was within easy range, and when opened was 
so destructive that he faltered, passed to my left 
through the open space, and to my rear, losing heavi- 
ly by the fire of my left wing as he passed, but 
threatening to cut off my command from our main 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 171 

forces. I at once sent information to my suuperior, 
and to the commander of the troops on my immediate 
right, of this peril to the whole line; but, without or- 
ders to abandon my position, though very critical, I 
could do nothing but change the front of my extreme 
left to face the new danger and protect my flank and 
rear, if possible. This was done, and a well directed 
fire kept up to the front and left, which kept the ene- 
my at bay. 

Meantime he was steadily pouring his columns 
past my left, and working across the rear of my posi- 
tion, so that in a short time the battle was in full 
force far in my rear. In this state of affairs I dis- 
covered that all the troops on my right had been 
withdrawn, taking with them a portion of my right 
wing. Lieutenant Colonel Mix, in charge of the 
right wing, and Captain Miller, commanding Com- 
pany B, on my extreme right, fell, fatally wounded. 
My attention had been chiefly directed to the front 
and left, as the exposed directions, and I only came 
to a knowledge of the retrograde of the right, when 
the first three companies were already gone. The 
timber and undergrowth were such that I could not 
observe my whole line from any one point. The 
movement was promptly checked, but the ground 
thus left vacant was almost immediately occupied by 
the enemy, and a destructive fire opened upon us 
from a new direction, rendering it necessary that it 
should be met by a new line, which was done. 

My lines now faced in three directions. I was 
completely enveloped, without orders, and virtually 
in the hands of the enemy had he dared to close in 
and overwhelm us with his masses now around us. 

This was my position until after sunset, by which 
time the enemy had left my front, passing now by 
my right to the rear, where the fight was still raging, 
and observing by the fire and cheers of our men that 
he had been forced back on the left, and that our 
forces in that direction could not be far distant, I 
moved by the left flank about two hundred yards to 
the left and rear, where I met and joined our most 
advanced troops, my brave men were nearly out of 
ammunition, which for the past hour had been well 



172 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

husbanded, They were exhausted, but not dismayed, 
and felt that the battle-field was ours. 

I enclose a list of the killed, wounded, and miss- 
ing-, a total of two-hundred and ten, which I desire 
may be considered a part of this report. Owing to 
all parties from my command being unable to pass 
the picket lines during the night, to visit the wound- 
ed still upon the field, and then compelled to abandon 
them very unexpectedly in the morning, there is a 
degi ee ot uncertainty in relation to the casualties, 
that is extremely embarrassing and painful. I fear 
the number of fatal casualties will exceed the num- 
ber stated, and that of those marked" 'missing,'" many 
are killed or wounded. Prom an early period of the 
action our position was such that disabled men seek- 
ing the hospital would necessarily fall into the hands 
of the enemy in our rear. 

Lieutenant Colonel Edward H, Mix fell at his 
post, cheering and encouraging the command by his 
example. 

The same was the glorious fate of Captain Amos 
B. Miller. In them, as aiso in Captain Hubert P. 
Peebles, Captain Michael Ackerman, 1st Lieut. John 
Devine, all dangerously wounded, 1st Lieutenant 
Thomas O. Howard, fatally wounded, I mourn the loss 
of good men, as well as gallant soldiers. The record 
of others is found in casualty list, and in the body of 
this report. 

To Captain Jonathan Hutchinson, my special 
thanks are due, not only for his gallantry, but also 
for repressing reckless exposure among the men 
of his command, and thus saving valuable live. His 
son, a youth of much promise, was killed by his side, 
early in the action. My total loss in the action was 
210. 



iowa volunteers. 173 

Report of Col. James Gilbert, Commanding 27th 
Iowa Infantry. 

Headquarters 27th Regmt. Iowa Vol. Inft., 
Grand Ecore. La., April 17, 1864. 

Our skirmishers fought well until they were 
overpowered and driven in. Immediately they re- 
sumed their place in the regiment when the enemy 
steadily approached in strong columns. 

At this point a bold cavalry charge was made by 
the enemy along the Shreveport road. Our men re- 
mained quiet until they had approached to within 
short range, when a full volley was poured into the 
rebel ranks. The effect was telling, riders reeled 
and fell senseless; horses were struck as dead as if a 
bolt of heaven had riven the very air. The scene 
was an appalling one. Scarcely a man who made 
the charge but met death on the spot. 

The enemy had moved upon the left of the ad- 
vanced line in strong force. The line had already 
been broken away to the left, and news came that 
the enemy were flanking us. Already the enemy 
were firing in our rear; several shots had taken ef- 
fect in the ranks of Com. B and G. The enemy ad- 
vanced in front in solid columns. We met them with 
a determined fire. Volley after volley was poured 
into their ranks. For two hours the rattle of mus- 
ketry was incessant and deafening. Several shells 
and a number of solid shot struck immediately by us, 
killing and wounding a number of men. About five 
and a half p. m. the order was given to retreat, but 
was not received by me until' other regiments had 
retired, leaving both flanks of my regiment greatly 
exposed. We fell back in good order and in line, un- 
til the enemy was discovered to be flanking us, when 
the line was broken, and we escaped through a nar- 
row passage, the enemy pouring a sharp fire upon 
both flanks and closing in rapidly on our rear. At 
this point a large part of those reported in the fol- 
lowing- list were killed or wounded. We immediate- 



174 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

ly formed line in the rear of the supporting column 
and awaited orders. 



Report op Capt. Warren C. Jones, Commanding 
14th Iowa Infantry. 

Grand Ecore. La., 
April 12, 1864. 

Colonel: — In compliance with instructions from 
your headquarters, I herewith submit the following 
report of the part taken by the 14th Iowa in the bat- 
tle of Pleasant Hill, La., April 9th 1864. The regi- 
ment moved out to the front, with the brigade to 
which it was attached, at a few minutes of 11 o'clock 
a. m.. taking position upon a line parallel with an 
open tield, the right resting upon a road immediate- 
ly in the rear of the 25th New York Battery; Com- 
pany I, under command of 2d Lieut. George H.Logan, 
and Company K, under command of Capt. Wm. J. 
Campbell, were deployed as skirmishers across the 
center of the field, their left resting upon the skirm- 
ish line of the 27th Iowa. Skirmishing occurred at 
intervals until thirty minutes past 4 o'clock p. m. , 
when the enemy advanced by a terrible cavalry 
charge. The 25th New York Battery fell back in 
rear of us. Our skirmishers rallying in their ap- 
propriate places, we reserved our fire until the ene- 
my was in easy pistol range, when we opened fire 
upon them, which almost annihilated them, horses 
and riders rolling almost within our lines. This 
charge was followed by an advance of infantry in 
two lines, when the conflict became general. The 
enemy was repulsed in front with a heavy slaughter. 
The second line advanced upon our front and a line 
at right angles upon our right flank, opening a terri- 
ble cross tire. Our right was changed in a new di- 
rection to meet the new line. In this deadly cross 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 175 

fire our lamented Lieutenant-Colonel, J. H. Newbold, 
fell from his horse mortally wounded, the ball pass- 
ing through his body from the right breast, disabling 
his left arm. Here also fell Lt. Logan, Lt.McMillen, 
Lt. Shanklin, and Lt. Hazlett, officers beloved by all, 
nobly laying their bodies a bleeding sacrifice upon 
their country's altar. The long list of casualties 
clearly indicates the irresistible bravery and deter- 
mined will of the regiment. Upon the fall of Lieut. 
Colonel Newbold, I assumed command of the regi- 
ment. I tender my most hearty thanks to the officers, 
commissioned and non-commissioned, and to the 
privates, for the gallant manner in which they sus- 
tained their reputation gained upon the bloody fields 
of Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, De Russy, and Pleas- 
ant Hill. 

I withdrew the regiment with the rest of the 
brigade by your order at 6 o'clock p. m. 



Colonel Shaw's Report. 

Headquarters 2nd Brig., 3d Div., 16th A. C, 

Grand Ecore, La., April 15, 1864. 

Brigadier-General A. J. Smith:-- 

1 have the honor to report that at 10 o'clock a.m. 
April 9th, 1864. I was ordered to report with my 
brigade, (consisting of the 14th Iowa Infantry. 27th 
Iowa Infantry, 32d Iowa Infantry, and the 24th Mis- 
souri Infantry, ) to General Banks. By him I was 
ordered to proceed to the front, and report to Gen- 
eral Emery, which I did about 10 and half o'clock 
a. in. General Emery ordered me to relieve Gener- 
al McMillan, who was posted on the left of the Mans- 
field road, and at right angles to it, in a dense thick- 
et, with an old field in front, which was dotted over 



170 THIKTY SECOND REGTMEKT 

with small pines. About 100 yards to bis front, and 
on bis right, were four guns of the 2f)th New York 
Battery. General Dwight was posted on McMillan's 
right, diagonally to the rear. On the right of the 
25th New York Battery was a ridge which complete 
ly commanded McMillan's whole line, also the town; 
and which covered the approach of the enemy. I 
therefore deemed it proper to occupy this ridge with 
the 24th Missouri, and relieve General McMillan 
with the balance of my brigade. This was accord 
ingly done, and McMillan retired. This left a gap 
on my left, and also threw my right beyond General 
Dwiuht's support. But with this disadvantage I 
considered the position better than the one occupied 
by the troops I had relieved. 

At this time General Smith came up. to whom I 
pointed out the position of my forces, which was ap- 
proved, except that he ordered me to move my main 
line further to the right, which brought three com- 
panies of the 14th Iowa in and on the light of the 
Mansfield road. This consequently left a greater gap 
on my left. General Emery was aware of the changes 
by my brigade, but 1 cannot learn that he uave any 
orders for a corresponding change of Dwight's bri- 
gade. General Emery at this time left the front, 
and I saw no more of him till after dark that night. 

These dispositions brought Dwight's brigade in 
the rear of my second regiment, and nearly perpen- 
dicular to my line of battle. 

As at this time my skirmishers were heavily en- 
gaged, and an attack appeared imminent, I deemed it 
prudent to consult with General Dwight, as General 
Emery had left that part of the field, and I could 
neither find him, or any of his staff. L accordingly 
went along the line of his brigade to the place where 
he had his brigade Hag, but could neither find him or 
his staff, when I was informed by some officers that 
they had seen a drunken officer near a house in the 
rear, trying to get a tent pitched, whom they under- 
stood to be General Dwight! I accordingly rode to 
the place, and, after much difficulty I roused an of- 
ficer who was pointed out tome as his A.A.G. Prom 
him I learned that General Dwight was awa} T , but he 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 177 

said he would send me word as soon as he returned. 
After waiting some time I again went to his head- 
quarters, but was unable to learn where he could be 
found. 

The enemy's skirmishers had now (3 o'clock 
p. m.,) passed my right and pressed my skirmishers 
so closely that it became necessary to support them 
with another company. 

I attain went in search of General Dwight, and 
this time found him. After a great deal of difficul- 
ty, he appeared. to understand my position, and 
promised to send the necessary support. This he 
not only failed to do, but withdrew farther to the 
rear. 

At about 4 o'clock p, m., General Stone rode to 
the front. I rode with him along my line, showing 
him the changes that had been made from Emery's 
original line, and the necessity of a corresponding 
change in Dwight's line. 

After examining this part of the field his remark 
was, "Your position is well chosen. It is admirable. 
It could not be better. I will see that your flanks 
are properly supported, for this position must be 
held at all hazards." He immediately passed to my 
rear, as I supposed, to give the necessary orders. 
But no support came. A few moments before 5 
o'clock, the enemy opened heavily on me with artil- 
tery, which was replied to feebly for a few moments 
by the 25th New York Battery, when they limbered 
up and disgracefully left-the held, leaving one cais 
son and one gun on the road, which were drawn off 
by Lieutenant Buell of my staff. At the same time 
General Dwight fell entirely out of my sight to the 
rear. 

While my battery was leaving, a dash was made 
by tne enemy's cavalry to capture it, but they were 
so well received by the 14th Iowa and 24th Missouri, 
that not a single man escaped. Their leader, Col 
Buchel fell dead in the ranks of the 14th Iowa. This 
attack was followed by their infantry, which advanc- 
ed in two lines, "extending beyond both my right and 
left. They advanced steadily and in good order 



178 THIETY SECOND REGIMENT 

across the open field in mv front, till they got within 
easy range, when my whole line opened upon them, 
stopping their advance, but not preventing them from 
replying vigorously to my fire, causing heavy loss. 
My men held their ground, keeping up a steady and 
well directed fire, which soon compelled their first 
line to fall back in disorder. In the meantime fight- 
ing had commenced on my left, and the line to my 
left had fallen back so as to enable the enemy to pass 
in rear of my left. They had also passed around my 
right, and were firing on my flank, when their second 
line advanced, and I was again engaged along my 
whole front. 

At this time I received an order from General 
Smith to fall back, as the enemy was getting in my 
rear. My staff officers having all been dispatched to 
different officers for support, and being myself on 
the right of my brigade, I had to ride to the left in 
rear of my brigade to give the order to withdraw. 
The brush and timber was so thick that I could 
scarcely see ten paces As I passed down the line, I 
sent the order to Colonel Gilbert, 27th Iowa, to fall 
back as soon as the regiments on his right should 
commence retreating. I then pushed on to give the 
necessary orders to Colonel Scott. 3'2d Iowa, when I 
met the enemy's forces entirely in his rear, prevent- 
ing me from communicating with him. I was there- 
fore compelled to leave him to act without orders. 
Hurrying back to the ri^ht,! found the 24th Missouri 
had been compelled to change its front to receive the 
attack from the right, and that the enemy was press- 
ing my front with overwhelming numbers. The am- 
munition of the 14th Iowa and 24th Missouri was 
nearly exhausted, Lieutenant-Colonel Newhold, com- 
manding 14th Iowa, shot dead; his Adjutant mortally 
wounded. I therefore considered it necessary to 
give the order to fall back to the three regiments 
with which I could communicate, leaving Colonel 
Scott, 32nd Iowa, to extricate himself as best he 
could. 

Owing to the heavy firing and great -loss of offi- 
cers in the 14th Iowa and 24th Missouri, I was com 
pelled to give the order to the men in person to fall 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS, 179 

back, which, together with the thick brush, caused a 
temporary confusion in their ranks, but they rapidly 
re formed, and were ready again to meet the enemy; 
but night had set in and the fighting ceased. My 
men fought well, holding their ground till ordered 
to retire, and although my loss was three times that 
of any other brigade on the field, they were still in 
such condition that the Commanding General saw fit 
to give them the responsible post of covering the re- 
treat of the army, which commenced at one o'clock 
the next morning, and was accomplished in safety. 

1 have to regret the loss of many valuable offi- 
cers and men, among them I will only mention Lieut. 
Colonel Edward H. Mix, 32nd Iowa, in whom the 
State lost a valuable citizen, and the army a good 
soldier; and Lieutenant-Colonel Newbold, command 
ing 14th Iowa, a Christian gentleman and a brave, 
industrious, and conscientious officer, whose loss to 
his regiment is irreparable. 

I cannot speak too highly of my regimental com- 
manders. Of Colonel John Scott, 32nd Iowa, it is 
sufficient praise to saj' that he is worthy to command 
the 32nd Iowa Infantry, a regiment, which after hav- 
ing been entirely surrounded, and cut off from the 
rest of the command, with nearly one half of its num- 
bers either killed or wounded, among them many of 
its best and most prominent officers, successfully 
forced its way through the enemy's lines, and was 
in line ready and anxious to meet the enemy in less 
than thirty minutes. 

Of Colonel Gilbert, 27th Iowa, and his regiment, 
I can say that they did their whole duty; although 
they had never been under fire before, they gave 
their fire with the coolness and precision of veterans, 
and fully sustained the reputation of Iowa soldiers. 
Colonel Gilbert, although wounded early in the ac- 
tion, remained in command of his men till the fight- 
ing ceased. 

Of Lieutenant-Colonel Newbold, commanding 
14th Iowa, and his regiment, upon whose banners 
w r ere inscribed, Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth, 
and Corinth, they fully maintained the credit of a 



180 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

name already glorious in the annals of their country. 
To Major P.yan, 24th Missouri, with his regiment 
and a detachment of 21st Missouri. those heroes who 
had learned to light under old Dave Moore, I cannot 
give too great praise for the successful manner in 
which they defended so long the important position 
that was assigned them; a position the most import- 
ant in our whole line, and which, had it heen defend- 
ed less obstinately, might have endangered cur whole 
army. 

The long list of killed and wounded, amounting 
to nearly 500, shows the desperate valor with which 
my men fought. My men were the first in the fight. 
the longest in the fight, and in the hardest of the 
fight, and were the last to leave the battle-field, and 
were ready and willing to remain, and reap the fruits 
of a victory which they had so dearly purchased; but 
they were soldiers, and must obey the orders of their 
superiors. 

In closing this report T have to state that al- 
though under General Emery's orders, and farthest 
advanced of any troops in the field, and skirmishing 
with the enemy for six hours before the attack com- 
menced, 1 neither saw General Emery, nor any of his 
staff, till after the fighting had ceased; nor was I able 
to find him, although I dispatched several messengers 
to him to report the situation of affairs. 

WM. T. SHAW, 
Colonel Commanding Brigade. 



In 1888, twenty-four years after date of this bat- 
tle, Colonel Wm. T. Shaw inspected certain official 
Reports at Washington, which are now found in Vol- 
ume 34 of the Official Records of the War of the Re- 
bellion, published by the U. S. Government in 1891. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 181 

He published some of these Reports in a pamphlet, 
with his comments thereon, and prefaced this publica- 
tion with the remark that his original Report, made 
a few days after the battle, gave an accurate account 
of the operations of the Brigade and would need no 
explanation but for the fact that other Reports seem 
to contradict facts stated by him He reviews their 
statements, also the map of the battle made by Gen- 
eral Emory. These comments and explanations are 
here inserted as a matter of personal justice to the 
brave commander of our Brigade, and also in the in- 
terest of honest history. Col. Shaw says:— 

I have here given the official reports of those 
officers, both union and confederate, which tend to 
show the position and part taken by the 2d brigade, 
3rd division, 16th A. C, in the battle of Pleasant 
Hill. 

The position of the brigade as shown by Emory's 
map is reasonably correct excepting my right regi- 
ment, which instead of being in front of my 2d regi- 
ment, should be farther to the right, and about two 
thirds of the 2d regiment should be on the left of 
the Mansfield road. The long angle worm looking 
line to my right marked: "Opening Fight 1st posi 
tion of 1st Brigade," is incorrect. There were no 
troops there. The 1st brigade(Dwight's) was in rear 
of my brigade. Fessenden's report says: at 3:30 p. 
m.. "The line of battle of the brigade was changed 
from its position in the skirt of woods to a position 
300 yards to the rear." It will be perceived that my 
brigade was the extreme right of our line and one- 
fourth of a mile in advance of Emory's division. In 
this position they remained skirmishing with the en- 
emy from 10:30 a. m , till the battle opened about 
4:30 p. m. I should say, however, that the 25th New 
York battery, which belonged to Emory's division, 
remained on the Mansfield road a few rods in front 
of my 2nd regiment. My position was examined and 



182 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

approved during the day by General Smith and Gen 
eral Stone, General Banks, chief of staff. Herein this 
position the battle opened by the < rebels opening 
with three batteries on my battery (25th N. Y.,) and 
center. 

Here it is proper for me to state that my report 
was too severe on the 25th N. Y. battery, but I had 
been accustomed to command troops who never re- 
tired till ordered, and as they left without orders 
that must be my apology. My battery having left, 
the rebel General Green, supposing my line was bro- 
ken and falling back, ordered General Bee. in com- 
mand of rebel cavalry, to charge my line. This part 
of the action is so well described by General Taylor, 
the rebel commander, that I take the liberty of repeat- 
ing his exact words found in his report, pages 26 and 
27: 

'•At about 5 p. m. Churchill and Parsons opened 
on the right and Walker commenced his advance in 
Support; Just then our fire overpowered the enemy's 
battery in front of the Mansfield road and disabled 
his guns, which were removed to the rear. The con- 
fusion and movement incident to this, coupled with 
the sound of Churchill's and Parsons' attack, led 
GeneralGreen naturally to suppose the time for Bee's 
charge had arrived. Bee led forward Debray's and 
Buchel's tine regiments in most gallant style across 
the fields and up the opposite slope, where he was 
stopped by a close and deadly fire of musketry from 
the dense woods on either side of the road. Bee was 
struck, Buchel mortally wounded, and Debray and 
Major [M. ) Menard, of the same regiment, struck. 
Many a gallant horseman went down. Bee drew 
back, himself retiring last. The charge failed for 
the time, but the gallantry displayed by Bee, Debray. 
Buchel. Menard, and others produced its effect on 
the enemy." 

General Bee's attack was scarcely repulsed when 
General Walker's division advanced on the left of the 
Mansfield road diagonally across the open field strik- 
ing my left wing with his left, his right passing to 
my left and rear till it struck Benedict's brigade, 
which broke almost immediately and were followed 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 183 

up by the rebels till they struck Gen. Smith's troops 
under Gen. Mower. 

Walker's left win" 1 was checked and driven back 
by my left two regiments (32nd and 27th Iowa,) many 
of them, however, passing around the left of the 32d 
Iowa into its rear. See Col. Scott's report. In the 
meantime. Gen. Major, with his own brigade and 
Bagley's dismounted cavalry, passed to the right of 
the Mansfield road and attacked my right flank. Here 
the contest was most fierce and sanguinary and al- 
though my right was attacked by two brigades of 
dismounted cavalry, still the resistance was so stub- 
born that Gen. Taylor found it necessary to order up 
Polignac's division of infantry to their support. At 
this time Gen. Smith, perceiving that Walker's right 
winsj: was getting to my rear, sent Capt. J. J. Lyon, 
of his staff, to order me to fall back and connect with 
Mower's right. I had just received the order when 
Lieut. Buell, acting brigade quartermaster, brought 
up the ammunition wagon with cartridges. My whole 
line was so hotly engaged it was impossible to distri- 
bute the ammunition and almost certain destruction 
to withdraw. I directed Capt. Lyon to say to Gen. 
Smith I would withdraw as soon as I had repulsed 
the enemy so that I could retire in order. I also di- 
rected Lieut. Buell to take his ammunition wagon and 
draw off the gun left by the 25th N. Y.. and report to 
me as soon as possible the position of Gen. Mower. I 
then withdrew as stated in my report, the enemy 
having somewhat slackened his fire. About one- 
fourth of a mile from where my line was first formed 
I struck Gen. Dwight's brigade just forming across 
the Mansfield road shown by Emory's map as Dwight's 
second position. I passed through his lines with 
the 14th Iowa and 24th Mo., and formed in line of 
battle within ten paces of Dwight's line. Before I 
had gotten the 27th Iowa into line, Dwight moved 
from his position to the rear. I saw no more of him 
during that day. At this time Capt. Granger, my as- 
sistant adjutant general, who had been sent to Smith 
to notify him of the situation of my right, and Lieut. 
Buell, both reported to me that Mower was driving 
the enemy back and that he had already passed my 



184 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

left. It was now getting: dark. The three regiments 
that were with me held the same relative position to 
the Mansfield road as they had daring the day, ex- 
cepting that they were about one-fourth of a mile to 
the rear. The rebels did not follow us up nor did 
they pass to my right. My communications were 
never interrupted between my hospital, which was 
on the right of the Mansfield road and about one- half 
mile in rear of where I first formed my line, and I 
should judge near the place marked on Emory's map 
as -Emory's Headquarters." Neither were my com- 
munications interrupted with our wagon train, which 
must have been somewhere near where Emory, in 
his map, has located five rebel regiments. 

In the position marked on Emory's map as "Reb- 
els Massing 1o Attack at Close of Action. "there could 
not have bf en any rebels. See Bee's and Baylor's 
report. These officers both report that after De- 
bray's and Buchel's repulse on my center, that Gen. 
Major's two brigades of cavalry were dismounted 
and attacked my right and right center,and, although 
they claim to have driven my first line back to our 
breastworks, the first line was simply our skirmish 
line, which was unusually strong. The breastworks 
were only an old log' fence which I had slightly 
strengthened lo give some protection to my men. 

Of this attack on my right center and right flank 
with two brigades of dismounted cavalry, Gen. Bay- 
lor says: "We were not strong enough to dislodge 
them or flank them." Gen. Polignac's division was 
ordered to their support, but it was growing dusk 
and friend and foe were not easily distinguished. 
The different rebel commands fired into one another 
and they withdrew from that part of the field. This 
accounts for their not following me up on the right 
when I fell back, and conclusively shows that there 
could have been no enemy to the rear of my right 
that night. The arrows showing attack along Mans- 
field road and marked "Rebel Attack at Close of Ac- 
tion," should read: at opening of action. And those 
on the right marked "Rebel Attack at Opening of 
Action on Shaw's Brigade," should read: at close in- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 185 

stead of opening. The point on my left front mark- 
ed "Rebel Artillery" is correct, also "Rebel Attack" 
is correct. As to the rear of the battlefield where 
the rebel troops seem to have been so lavishly dis- 
tributed, I have no personal knowledge, nor have I 
been able to get any information concerning them 
from any reports of either rebel or union commanders, 
I passed over the ground the next morning after 
daylight, but saw no signs of any fighting there. 

I shall here refer to two statements in General 
Dwight's report that seem to contradict mine. 
Dwight says that shortly after the battle commenced 
"Col. Shaw, commanding a brigade of Gen. A. J. 
Smith's troops, came to me saying that he was in 
front of my position and that both his right and left 
were being severely pressed, and desiring that I 
should send out a regiment to his support. As I had 
no authority to do more than hold my position I de- 
clined to march out from it." T say in my report that 
he 'promised to send the regiment and did not. On same 
page, near the bottom, Dwight says: "These dis- 
positions were hardly accomplished when Col. Shaw 
of Gen. Smith's division, with some artillery and a 
regiment of infantry came fleeing through my lines 
and the enemy was upon me." 

It is possible that Gen. Dwight might have mis- 
taken Lieut. Buell for myself, but how he could have 
taken a piece of artillery hitched to a wagon for "some 
artillery and a regiment of infantry" passes my com- 
prehension; and further, how the enemy could be 
upon him seems equally difficult to understand, as 
some thirty minutes afterwards I fell back with my 
brigade and formed within ten paces of his line, and 
saw no enemy, nor do the rebel reports say they fol- 
lowed me up, but distinctly say they did not. 

As Gen. Emory nowhere in his report speaks of 
his first brigade (Dwight's) being engaged, and from 
its position as laid down on his map, could not have 
been, except he had fought over my line of battle 
some fourth of a mile in front of him, I think I may 
dismiss his report without further comment. 

Having thus clearly established the fact that I 
held the right of the union army during the action, at 



1&6 THIIITY SECOND EEGIMENT 

the risk of being - accused of giving cumulative testi- 
mony, I insert the following extract from Emory's 
report: 

"Seeing their right wing driven in and thrown 
upon their left wing, they renewed their attack upon 
my right, but were repulsed with great slaughter and 
driven from the field. During the whole light my 
right, which was in echelon in front of the rest of my 
line, held its ground against several determined as- 
saults." 

I might refer to Gen. Banks' report, but it shows 
such a total want of knowledge of the location of his 
forces and the operations of the day, or such a total 
disregard of truth as to place it benealh criticism. 

Respectfully submitted to the survivors of the 
2nd brigade, 3rd division, 16th A. ( '. 

\VM, T. SHAW. 



Note: — In this campaign there were three Generals 
named Smith, each of whom is several times mentioned. 
The General Smith with whom the 32ud Iowa Iufa try was 
directly associated, was General A. J. Smith, under whom 
the regiment had served in the fall of 1863 at Columbus, Kv., 
and under whose command it had made the campaign to 
Meridian. The Regiment continued under his command 
during several future campaigns. Where mention is made 
of "General Smith," without more particular designation, 
the reference is to General A. J. Smith. 

General T. Kilbv Smith commanded a detachment of 
the l^th Army Corps; was under the command of General 
A. J. Smith, and on this campaign accompanied, on trans- 
ports, the fleet of Admiral Porter, in the attempt to reach 
Shreveport by the Red River. 

The other General Smith was Major General Kirby 
Smith, of the Confederate army, in command of the Trans- 
Mississippi Department, with headquarters at Shreveport. 
General Dick Taylor commanded the rebel forces in the 
field in the campaign against Banks; while General Price 
commanded the rebel forces in Arkansas in the campaign 
against Steele. General Kirby Smith drew forces from 
Price, sent them to Taylor and he hurled them against Banks. 
Immediately thereafter Smith depleted Taylor's forces in aid 
of Price's operations against Steele. 



CHAPTER XXL 



Pleasant Hill. The Rebel Account. 



Intending to give a fair and truthful account of 
the Battle of Pleasant Hill, and feeling that the view 
taken of it by the enemy constitutes an important 
part of the battle itself, extracts from his statements 
are here given. Space cannot be spared for all the 
bombast and false and boastful assertions in Major 
General Richard Taylor's reports to his chief, and 
in the interest of "Buncombe," but even these false- 
hoods and boastful assertions constitute a part of the 
history of this famous battle. There are grains of 
truth in these bushels of chaff which may be winnow- 
ed out by the plodding and careful historian of the 
future. 

Two days after the battle General Taylor issued 

congratulatory orders to the "Soldiers of the Army 

of West Louisiana," in which he says: — 

On the 9th, you took up the pursuit and pressed 
it with vigor. For 12 miles prisoners, scattered 
arms, burning wagons, proved how well the previous 
day's work had been done by the soldiers of Texas 
and Louisiana. The gallant divisions from Missouri 
and Arkansas(unfortunately absent on the 8th) march- 
ed 45 miles in two days to share the glories of Pleas- 
ant Hill. This was emphatically the soldier's victory. 
In spite of the strength of the enemy's position, held 
by fresh troops of the Sixteenth Corps, your valor 
and devotion triumphed over all. Darkness closed 
one of the hottest tights of the war. The morning 
of the 10th dawned upon a fleeing foe, with our cav- 
alry in pursuit, capturing prisoners at every step. 
These glorious victories were most dearly won. A 
list of the heroic dead would sadden the sternest 



188 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

heart. A visit to the hospitals would move the sym- 
pathy of the most unfeeling. The memory of our 
dead will live as long as noble deeds are cherished 
on earth. The consciousness of duty well perform- 
ed will alleviate the sufferings of the wounded, 

Oa April 18th, nine days after the battle, Gener- 
al Taylor made out his official report; at least it is so 
dated, though not sent in until July 31st. The ex- 
cuse for not having sent it forward earlier is, "the 
impossibility of obtaining returns of the casualties in 
the cavalry-" This report is voluminous, encloses 
aid discusses reports of his subordinates, and com- 
prises many matters relating to the campaign against 
General Smith from Simsport and Ft. De Russy, till 
the arrival of Banks; — and especially to the battle of 
the 8th, and the defeat of our army near Mansfield. 
Ha\ing disposed of that affair by the remark that — 
"The vast captured property was quietly taken to 
Mansfield and turned over untouched to the proper- 
officers, " he says: — 

After all was quiet at the creek, and the neces 
sary orders for the morning had been given to Ma- 
jor-Generals Walker and Green, I returned to Mans- 
field lo hurry forward Churchill's and Parsons' divi- 
sions, arrived that evening from Keachie, 22 miles 
distant. Churchill and Parsons were put in motion 
for the front at 2 a. ra. After sending dispatches to 
department headquarters and giving necessary in- 
structions to the heads of the several departments I 
returned to the front at 3:30 a. m. Finding the ene- 
my had relreated during the night, as I supposed he 
must after the severe losses of the preceding day. I 
sent forward all the cavalry under Green, the infan- 
try following in column along the Pleasant Hill road, 
Churchill leading, then Parsons, Walker, and Polig- 
nac. now 7 commanding Mouton's division. I accom- 
panied the cavalry. For 12 miles not a shot was 
fired by the enemy. Many prisoners, 'burning wag- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 189 

otis, scattered arms, save evidence of the rout. A 
mile in advance of Pleasant Hill, Green found the 
enemy drawn up in a strong position. As we had 
left the infantry far in our rear by the rapid advance, 
I ordered feints to be made to the right and left to 
develop the position and strength of" the enemy. 
The importance of pushing Banks beyond Pleasant Hill 
could not lie overestimated. As shown by his orders 
dated at Natchitoches and captured on the 8th, Banks 
expected to reach Shreveport on the 11th with the 
Thirteenth [and] Nineteenth Corps and the cavalry 
via Pleasant Hill and Mansfield, and had on the 8th 
made two- thirds of the distance between the two 
points. - The troops of the Six- 

teenth and Seventeenth Corps, which came from 
Vicksburg and landed at Simsport. as they 
came in transports and had not appeared 
on the battle-field of the 8th, were certain- 
ly on the transports, being without land transporta- 
tion. Prom Pleasant Hill a good road leads to Blair's 
Landing, on Red River, lti miles distant, and cross- 
es Bayou Pierre 4 miles from the river, Blair's Land- 
ing being 4."> miles above Grand Ecore by water. 
From Pleasant Hill to Natchitoches the stage road 
leads around Spanish Lake, distance 36 miles, through 
a pine wood desert. The possession of Pleasant Hill 
tints prevented Banks from re-enforcing by the short 
line from his transports by the Blair's Landing road 
and threw him back to Natchitoches before he could 
unite his troops. I could not de- 

cide what force we were confronted by on the 
9th. It was late after midday before the infan- 
try got up. and a glance at Churchill's troops 
showed they were too much exhausted to attack. 
The infantry was ordered to lie down and rest for two 
hours. - - At 3 p. m., the infantry 

bein^ somewhat restored by rest, the plan of 
attack was formed and the troops put in mo- 
tion. The Arkansas and Missouri divisions, 
under Churchill and Parsons, with Etters and 
Daniel's batteries, were sent to the right to out- 
flank the enemy, reach the Jesup road, and attack 
from the south and west. Churchill, the senior offi- 



190 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMEN' 



cer, was to push Hardeman's, McNeill's, and Ter 
rell's cavalry to his right, and communicate with 
Walker on his left. When tin* onemy was driven, 
the cavalry above mentioned was to push down the 
Jesup road for H' miles, take a cross road leading in 
to the Natchitoches road, and thus fall on t he enemy's 
line of retreat. Walker filed to the right through 

the woods to form line del ween the Pleasant Mill and 

Jesup reads and communicate with Churchill's left. 
As soon as he heard Churchill's and Parsons' guns 
he was lo attack' by echelon of brigades from his 
right, the men to throw forward their right shoulders 
as they came into action. Orders were given to all 
to rely on the bayonet, as we had neither ammunition 

nor lime lo waste. These orders were well carried 

out. as many ghastly wounds among the Federals 
testily. On the left of Walker, Bee held Debray's 
and Buchel's cavalry in the main road from Mans 
field, with orders to charge through Pleasant Mill 
whenever tin' right attack disordered the enemy. To 
the left of the road Major, with his own and most of 
Bagby's cavalry (dismounted,) was to move forward. 
outflank the enemy's right, and gain and hold the 
Blair's Landing road. These latter movements were 
under t he i m mediate charge of General Green. Polig- 
nac. whose division had suffered more than any in 
the previous battle, was held in reserve in the Mans 
field road behind Bee's cavalry. At 1:30 p. m..( about 
the time I expecte I Churchill to be in position) I di 
reeled General Green to open artillery on a battery 
posted on an eminence fronting the Mansfield road 
where it debouched from the woods to a low cleared 
field. This was for the purpose of diverting the ene 
my's attention from Churchill's attack. Nettles'. 

Moseley's, and. I. A. A. West's batteries were posted 

by Major Semines. chief of artillery to General 
Green, and soon overpowered theenemy's tire on the 
hill before mentioned. The Valverde Battery, under 
Nellies, was first in action, and was roughly used by 
the Opposing fire, bat the other batteries mentioned 
soon opened and drove the enemy from his formida- 
ble position. - At abonl o p. m. 
Churchill and Parsons opened on the right and Walk- 



low \ VOLUNTEERS. 191 

ercommenced bis advance in support. Jusl then our 
tire overpowered the enemy's battery, in front of the 
Mansfield road, and disabled bis guns, which were 
removed to the rear. Tin* confusion and movement 
incidenl to this, coupled with the sound of Churchill's 
and Parsons' attack, led General Green naturally fco 
suppose the time for Bee's charge had arrived. Bee 
led forward Debray's and Buchel's fine regiments in 
most gallant style across the fields and up the oppo- 
site slope. where In' wasstopped by a close and dead- 
ly fire of musketry from the dense woods on either 
side of i he road. Bee was struck, Buchel mortally 
wounded, and Debray and Major Menard, of the same 
regiment, struck. Many a, gallant horseman went 
down. Bee drew back, himself retiring last. The 
charge failed Tor the time, but the gallantry display 
ed by Bee, Debray, Buchel, Menard, and others pro- 
duced its effect on the enemy. During this time 

Walker had led his splendid division across the Held 

and was fully engaged in the opposite wood, and 

Major laid swept, around to the left wit h his dismount 

ed cavalry of Bagby's and his own brigade, under 
Colonel Terrell ^ severely wounded in the fight,)clear- 
ed the wood to the left, and seized and held the posi- 
tion occupied by the enemy's battery in the com 

mence nt of the engagement. Thestubborn resist, 

ance offered by the enemy along the whole line soon 
convinced me thai he had received re-enforcements 
of fresh /mops and I ordered forward Polignac. 

Just then information reached me that Major 
General Walker was wounded. Galloping to the 

spot. I found he had received a, severe contusion in 
the groin, and ordered him to quit the field, which 
he did most, reluctantly. His wound was a great 
misfortune. The continuity of our line was lost, as 
I could not, for some time find either of our brigade 
commanders, all of whom were hotly engaged with 
in t he pine t hickel in the front. 

Churchill in his attach- did not. gain ground 
enough to his right nor use his cavalry efficiently. 
The consequence was that, although his first attack 
was vigorous, sweeping all before it, the enemy out, 
flanked his rigrhl and threw him into much confusion. 



192 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

He did all in his power to restore order, and was ably- 
seconded by Generals Pai sons, Tappan, and (Marie. 
whose brigade of Missourians suffered heavily. 
Brigadier-General Scurry, also commanding- the 
right brigade of Walker's division, behaved most no- 
bly, and speaks highly of Colonel Waterhouse, com- 
manding one of the" regiments. General Scurry was 
slightly wounded in the engagement. The efforts of 
these leaders prevented the confusion on the right 
from becoming disastrous. Mean time the fighting 
on the left and center was close and tierce. The 
fresh troops of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Corps 
held their ground manfully. The dense woods pre- 
vented a view of the field, and the continuity of our 
line was lost. An idea prevailed that we were firing 
on each oiher. Green, Poli^nac, Major, Randal, and 
Gray, with their respective staffs, rallied the troops 
and led them again and again into action, and the 
men by their conduct showed themselves worthy of 
such leaders. At nightfall I withdrew the iroopsto 
prevent the additional confusion incident to darkness 
and formed line in the open field. 

I remained with General Bee some 300 yards 
from the battle-field, two companies of Debray's 
regiment picketing on the field. The noise of wag- 
ons moving in the rear of the enemy's position con- 
firmed my opinion that he would retreat in the night. ' 
The cavalry which was sent to the first water to for- 
age was ordered to come 1o the front at daylight to 
taken]) the pursuit, and orders were issued to make 
details to bury the dead and care for the wounded. 

The morning of the 10th found us in possession 
of Pleasant Hill, the enemy retreating secretly in the 
niiiht, leaving his dead unburied and some 400 wound- 
ed in our hands. Bee took up the pursuit and held it 
for 20 miles without receiving a shot, capturing pris- 
oners and finding at every step the same evidence of 
rout as had marked the pursuit the previous day. 

All the inferences that Taylor intended should 
be drawn from the last paragraphs are totally false; 
and it is reasonable to presume that so much as pur- 
ports to state particular facts is of the same menda- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 193 

cious character. It is a burning shame that the flee- 
ing and totally demoralized enemy was not pursued 
beyond the limits of the battlefield, and for this cause 
we have no official evidence as to where Taylor spent 
the night, oth«r than his own statement; nor where 
the two companies of Debray's regiment were which 
Taylor says ' "picketed on the field." But the men of 
the 32nd Iowa who were captured testify to the de- 
moralized flight of the enemy for some miles beyond 
the battlefield. The wounded men and officers of 
Shaw's brigade, lying on the very front of the con- 
tested ground, know that neither Debray's cavalry 
nor any others of the enemy "picketed on the field." 
These, and our surgeons left in charge of hospitals, 
all unite in saying that not until the forenoon of the 
10th was well advanced was an enemy other than 
those dead and wounded to be seen; and that those 
who came at that hour carried a flag of truce, and came 
to ask that they be allowed to bury their dead and care 
for their ivounded! 

Every man of the 32nd Iowa, (which brought up 
the rear of our army, and stood on the 10th as on the 
9th between Banks and his dreaded foe.) can testify 
that the alleged pursuit by Bee, and the "evidence 
of rout," are totally false. The statement that Bee 
held the pursuit of the 32nd Iowa "for 20 miles with- 
out receiving a shot" yields the whole question, and 
stamps the statement as a falsehood. 



Lieut, Edward Cunningham, Aid -de-camp and 



194 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Chief of Artillery on staff of General Kirby Smith, 
from headquarters of the department at Shreveport, 
wrote a confidential letter to his uncle in Virginia, 
purporting to give a true statement of Taylor's entire 
campaign against Banks. This letter is dated June 
27th 1864. It was captured by General Canby, and 
forwarded to the U. S. War Department. What he 
says relative to the battle of Pleasant Hill is as fol- 
lows: — 

On the night of the 8th, Churchill and Parsons 
came up. The pursuit was resumed at daylight on 
the 9th. In the evening the enemy was found in line 
of battle at Pleasant Hill, A. J. Smith, who had come 
up from Naichitoches; on the left. Franklin ( Nine- 
teenth Corps) on the right, the whole about 24.000. 
The Thirteenth Corps had gone on to Natchitoches. 
The enemy's right was in woods, his left in open 
fields. W'alker and Polignac (commanding Mouton's 
division) attacked on our left. Parsons and Churchill 
on our right. The charge of the Arkansas and Mis- 
souri troops was dashing. On their left the enemy 
had five brigades and several batteries. Part of their 
infantry was in advance of the artillery and part in 
rear for a support. The Missouri division was to 
have been supported on the left by Scurry's brigade 
(Walker's extreme right), but instead of co-operating 
the two went into action separately, and were whip- 
ped in detail. The Missouri division drove back the 
enemy's line in its front, and came up within 50 yards 
of their batteries, hut having no support on their 
left, were flanked by the enemy from that direction, 
and meeting a heavy lire from the supporting force, 
retreated in confusion. About the time they had 
gotten away from the enemy, who showed no dispo- 
sition to follow. Scurry's brigade came up and was 
repulsed after having driven back the enemy's line 
in his front a quarter of a mile. The enemy follow- 
ed him some distance, capturing several hundred 
prisoners. Night put a stop to the fight, Churchill's, 
Parsons', and most of Walker's command being in 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 195 

great confusion. On our left Walker and Polignac 
had rather the advantage of the enemy without gain- 
ing any material results. Our troops were withdrawn. 
Polignac remained about 2 miles from the field. 
Walker, Churchill, and Parsons, with all the cavalry 
except one brigade, moved back 6 miles, the nearest 
point at which there was sufficient water. Neither 
our cavalry nor that of the enemy did anything in this 
fight. 

The next morning, after sunrise, very much to 
our surprise, we learned that the enemy had retreat- 
ed during the night. The cavalry w r as immediately 
sent in pursuit, while the infantry was taken back to 
Mansfield for organization, rest and supplies. The 
enemy evidently considered himself whipped. He 
ought to know. Independently of the condition of 
the troops after the fight, the want of supplies below 
Mansfield and of transportation to haul them render- 
ed immediate pursuit w r ith our whole force impossi- 
ble. 

General Taylor and his friends assert with the 
most confident assurance that had he been allowed to 
"follow up his victory"the utter destruction of Banks 
and Porter would have been the result. Perhaps the 
exact force of this argument can be appreciated only 
by perstms who saw General Taylor's victorious army 
just after it had attempted to destroy a part of Gen. 
Banks' force without the fleet to support it; but still 
the idea of our annihilating in their intrenchments a 
force three-fourths of which we had failed to whip in 
open fight, and of transporting over a distance of 250 
miles supplies we had been unable to haul 65 miles! 
Such projects must appear in their true light to any 
sensible person who looks calmly and impartially in- 
to the matter. 

That it was impossible for us to pur- 
sue Banks immediately — under four or five days — 
cannot be gainsaid. It was impossible because we 
did not have transportation for supplies, and impos- 
sible because we had been beaten, demoralized, par- 
alyzed in the fight of the 9th. One week was the 
shortest time in which we could put ourselves before 



196 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

the enemy at Natchitoches. By that time he had con- 
structed strong works in a naturally strong position. 
Could we, weakened hy the loss of 2.500 men and de- 
moralized by defeat, beat the enemy here in a forti- 
fied position with a force superior to ours as seven to 
four? 

As far as these statements are adverse to the 
enemy, or tend to contradict his boastful assertions, 
they must be regarded as the admissions of reluctant 
witnesses and therefore to be taken as wholly true, 
and in no sense overdrawn. The statements do not 
comprise all that might have been told. What they 
omit to state, if testified by others, may also be tak- 
en as true, for like reasons. It may be observed 
that the statements of Lieut. Cunningham strongly 
contradict the claim of Taylor that he rested on or 
near the battle-field. 



Gus Hall, a rebel soldier, who had passed the 
winter with Price, near Camden, Arkansas, and came 
to Louisiana with Churchill and Parsons, to help 
Taylor beat Banks back from Shreveport, and came 
up just after our troops had been beaten at Mans 
field, April 8th, wrote to the St. Louis Republican in 
October, 1885: — 

''*■ - T saw 225 loaded six mule wag- 

ons parked in Mansfield, that were that day captured 
from Banks, together with 1100 mules. 

On the morning of the 9th, Churchill's division 
was on the march for Pleasant Hill by 3 a. m., the 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 197 

distance about 20 miles. This was followed by Walk- 
er's Division of Texan Infantry. All day the road 
was full of our cavalry men bringing in prisoners, 
singly and in squads, many of whom could not under- 
stand a word of English, nor ride a horse. 

Ruin was on every side. Helpless women and 
hungry children stood tearfully by desolated homes. 
The naked chimnies showed where houses had been. 
Not even a bird was to be seen, nor any living thing 
that could get away. The wells were polluted; dead 
horses and broken vehicles lined the road. The bat- 
tle-scarred trees showed where Greene's cavalry had 
resisted the Federal advance. 

About 2 p. m., Churchill's Division halted some 
three miles west of Pleasant Hill, Tappan's Brigade 
being in front. The road forked here; one branch 
leading more to the south, and the other directly to 
Pleasant Hill. General Dick Taylor sat on a log, 
near the road, whittling a stick. Churchill joined 
him. They had an earnest conversation. Officers 
occasionally came in from the front and reported. 
We learned that the enemy was in line between us 
and Pleasant Hill. In about an hour Churchill's Di- 
vision moved on the right hand road for about two 
miles, turned east around a large plantation, and 
formed line of battle facing toward the north. Here 
orders were sent along the line for each command to 
be governed by the movement of the forces on its 
right. It was soon shown that this was a most fatal 
order. Skirmishers were deployed, and the command 
moved forward. After a quarter of a mile the line 
was halted, moved eastward by the right flank, came 



198 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

to a front, and advanced in action. 

There was a small creek alony; which the Feder- 
al line of battle was formed, on abandoned farm lands 
that extended from the village southward, -across this 
creek. The underbrush was dense on some parts of 
the creek, extending- towards another abandoned 
field farther west. The lower creek had sometime 
been straitened by a ditcli, the banks of which were 
covered with switch cane. The ditch w^as a quarter 
of a mile long, occupied by Federal troops, among 
them being a regiment of New York Zouaves. Gen. 
Parsons' Missourians were on our extreme right; 
next to them the Arkansas troops under Ganze and 
Tappan. 

Parsons' men came down the wooded hill into 
the field, in front of the ditch, and without pausing 
to rectify their alignment swept on. and over the 
ditch, capturing eA'evy man in it. They assaulted 
the second Federal line, and a most determined con- 
test ensued. It was an open field, and there was no 
cover. The Missourians pressed forward, and forced 
the federal troops up the slope, and into the village, 
where resistance measurably ceased, and Banks' 
army was virtually cut in twain. 

Meantime Ganze struck the enemy in the thick 
woods farther up the creek. The enemy opposed to 
him did not drive easily. One regiment in particu 
lar, the 23d Iowa, disdained to fly, and were nearly 
all killed or wounded. The Lieutenant Colonel in 
command was killed at his post in the rear of his 
regiment. 

Captain Peebles and Captain Ackerman of this 
regiment were wounded and captured. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 



199 



Probably no regiment in the world could show a bet- 
ter fighting record. 

Tappan's brigade struck the enemy above Ganze, 
and after a hot reception gained ground. Everything 
promised well. The enemy were giving way all 
along the line. Just then Banks' extreme left, which 
extended beyond Parsons' right, swung around as if 
to take him in the flank. Seeing this the Missouri- 
ans began to fall back. This move threw them into 
disorder, and became a retreat. In a few moments 
every command, seeing that upon its right falling 
back, did the same. The Federals were getting off 
the field in one direction and we in another! Our re- 
treat was soon a panic and a rout! 

In vain our officers attempted to restore order. 
They commanded, threatened, and by turns emplor- 
ed, but to no purpose. They were borne along upon 
the rushing tide. Conspicuous in these efforts to 
rally the demoralized troops were Churchill, Parsons, 
Tappan. Grinstead, Tom Thompson, and Colonels 
Mosser, Kelley, and Gains, of Tappan's brigades. 

Mosser had lost his hat. and with a red handker- 
chief tied about his head, his ferocious beard, and 
with his naked sword in hand and belaboring with 
the flat side his flying troops;— mounted on a fiery 
horse he was the picture of a Saracen in the time of 
the crusades! Parsons rode a magnificent horse, 
covered with foam. He and Kelley left the field to- 
gether. Deeming this respectable company in which 
to leave a battle-field I rode along behind them for 
several miles. Neither of them talked. They were 
gloomy and depressed, but neither indulged in fault- 



200 THIRTY SECOND REGIMKNT 

finding or vain regrets. 

Thus ended the battle of Pleasant Hill. The fol- 
lowing day we returned and occupied the field " 



It is not strange that Hall, after a lapse of more 
than twenty years, should have forgotten the num- 
ber of the Iowa Regiment to which Peebles and Ac- 
kerman belonged. The 23d Iowa was not in the bat- 
tle. Names and numbers learned after the fight ap- 
pears not to have been so impressed upon him as the 
incidents which he so vividly describes. Unlike Tay- 
lor and Banks, and having no responsibility for the 
blunders of the day, he evidently meant to tell a 
plain story, let the truth hurt whom it might. 

Even the errors of fact stated by Hall, such de- 
tails as that the Lieutenant Colonel was in command 
of the regiment, may stand as evidence of his inten- 
tion to tell the truth. As to the truth of what he 
says of panic and rout, there can be but one opinion. 
Dick Taylor's oath would not for a moment contro- 
vert the simple yet graphic story of the manner in 
which Mosser laid about him; nor his description of 
the beaten and sullen Parsons and Kelley as they 
rode, gloomy and depressed, for several miles. It is 
not improbable that Hall could tell where Taylor 
"formed line in the open field" after the fighting 
ceased ! 



CHAPTER XXII. 
Reviewing Pleasant Hill. 

It is hoped that the engraved plan of the field 
and the Battle of Pleasant Hill, facing with the fol- 
lowing explanations, will enable the reader to obtain 
a reasonably correct knowledge of what really oc- 
curred. The village called Pleasant Hill was a mere 
hamlet, intended in its inception as a place where 
the families of those cultivating plantations on the 
low lands might more safely reside during certain 
seasons. It was to comprise a school, a church, some 
shops and places for trade, and the necessary dwell- 
ings for the population that might be attracted by its 
supposed advantages. It was not the success its or? 
iirinators contemplated, was apparently as unfeather- 
ed in lS(i4 as when first hatched, whenever that may 
have been. 

It occupied a part of the upland ridge, or divid- 
ing of the low streams that flow on the one hand to- 
ward the Northeast into Red River or the adjacent 
bayous, and on the other side toward the Southwest, 
into the Sabine River. There is no hill, as the word 
is understood in more elevated districts. It is simply 
a broad ridge, gently undulating, and originally cov- 
ered w-ith forest, in which farms had been opened, 
in many of which the soil being exhausted they had 
been abandoned, becoming what is known in the 
South as "old fields." 

By reason of the character of the bottom lands, 
and the numerous bayous and lakes therein, the riv- 



202 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

ers are rarely bridged, and are only to be approach- 
ed by teams at distant intervals. To certain points 
on the rivers roads are made, and at these places the 
Boats land for freight and passengers. Thns while 
Admiral Porter was advancing by Red River, greatly 
impeded and incurring grave risk of disaster from 
the exceptionally low stage of water, Banks was try- 
ing to reach Shreveport by land. Though only a few 
miles distant neither party could aid the other. The 
transports, under convoy of the gunboats, carried 
supplies for the army on land, but not available un- 
til the army and navy should meet at Shreveport. 

The map shows a space three miles by two, up- 
on which our army entered by the road from Grand 
Ecore, at the extreme Southeast corner, and which 
the enemy reached from the Northwest by the Mans- 
field road. The plan shows the disposition of our 
available forces, as made in the morning of April 9th, 
Shaw's Brigade being in the extreme front, on the 
Mansfield road, on which the enemy was expected; 
his right not reaching the swamp indicated; his left 
in the air. His right should have been protected and 
supported by available troops of the 19th Corps; and 
so also should his left. He demanded this, but failed 
to secure it. His line was already extended beyond 
the capacity of his brigade, and made less strong by 
the wide front he was asked to cover. 

Col. Pessenden says that the first position of 
Benedict's Brigade of the 19th Corps was in the thick 
woods in front of his place as shown on the map; pro- 
bably about equidistant from the position of the 32nd 
Iowa and the ditch into which he made his way dur- 
ing the afternoon. Had he moved his right forward. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 203 

and faced more to the South, our position would have 
been greatly improved. His removal toward the rear 
made an opening for the enemy, through which he 
rushed into the rear of Shaw's Brigade, with an im- 
petus that carried Benedicts Brigade out of the shel- 
tering ditch, and up the slope, toward the reserves 
under Mower. In this movement the rebels say they 
did not tire a shot, but relied upon the bayonet. 
That is mere false bragadocio. The greater number 
of the casualties were from gunshot wounds. In this 
charge Benedict was killed, and three of his regi- 
ments scattered. The fourth, the 30th Maine, under 
Colonel Fessenden. on the left, held their ground un- 
til the others were beyond their reach, when they 
fell back alone and joined the lines of Mower's at- 
tack.* 

When Gen. Smith, from the right of Mowers 
Division, saw the enemy in Shaw's rear, he ordered 
him to fall back [See Shaw's report.] 

The 58th Illinois, under Colonel Lynch, had been 
placed as shown on the plan, to keep watch and 
guard against a possible though not expected attack 
from the South and Southwest, and was in line fac- 



*It was Colonel Fesseuden's idea that Benedict was 
wholly surprised to find himself attacked in his then posi- 
tion. He probably regarded the thick woods in his front, 
the ditch he occupied and his remoteness from other troops, 
as giving him probable exemption from discovery. It is 
also probable that at the hour he and his troops, like Gen- 
eral Banks himself, were saving "there will be no fight to- 
day !" 

[General Banks uttered these words as he was dismount- 
ing at his Head Quarters, and was answered by the batteries 
of the enemy before any one could make other reply!] 



204 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

ing the South. 

As the enemy pursued Benedict's retreating and 
scattered soldiers along the open ground, and up the 
slope, toward the Northwest, he exposed his right 
flank to Lynch who took prompt advantage of it, 
faced about, and rolled him up like an old parchment! 
This turned the tide of battle, and the heretofore ex- 
ultant enemy became panic stricken; a condition that 
soon communicated itself to his whole force. It was 
Bull Run over again, but with the boot on the other 
foot! * 

At this juncture General Mower advanced with 
the reserves of the 16th Corps, completely driving 
the enemy from the field. The fighting was over. 
The enemy in utter panic and rout, as described by 
Gus Hall, page 196, was going towards Mansfield at 
the best speed of which he was capable. The sun 
had by this time set. The woods were thick with 
the smoke of the battle. Gen. Mower felt his way 
carefully through the darkened woods, toward the 
Southwest, over a part of the track on which Church- 
ill's Division came to the attack. Had he known 



* Note: —It is interesting to consider that the expecta- 
tion of our Generals was that Taylor would throw his full 
strength down the Mansfield road. They had so little 
thought of an attack in force on the left that Lynch's regi- 
ment was thrown out along in that direction. It appears 
that Churchill must have assumed that the position held by 
Shaw's Brigade was supported by the entire Federal force, 
and that the attack by Parsons and Tappau was upon the 
flank and rear of our army, instead of being expended upon 
the left of Shaw's Brigade, and in rushing over Benedict. 
Had Churchill not made this mistake, but had struck Lynch 
fairly, he must have driven him back upon Mower's flank, 
instead of exposing his own flank in Mower's front. This 
would have completely reversed the conditions, and might 
have reversed the results. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



205 



what the 32nd Iowa knew he might have pushed on 
rapidly; or had there been cavalry to send after the 
fleeing rebels there might have been hundreds of 
prisoners and some batteries taken in. But the 
cavalry had gone out in the morning on the road to 
Grand Ecore, in charge of trains! Even the Hos- 
pital Train had been sent oft'! * 

Colonel Shaw distinctly says that when with his 
three regiments he fell back, after repulsing Gen. 
Major's attack on his right by dismounted cavalry, 
that the enemy did not follow him, nor had his com- 
munication with his hospital, still farther in the rear, 
been interrupted. This clearly shows that all the fight- 
in- north of the Mansfield road alleged to have been 
done there by the 19th Corps is pure fiction. The 
fighting was in front of Shaw's Brigade;— on his left, 
and in the rear of his left, where Benedict was driv- 
en ; _and by the 58th Illinois, followed up by Mow- 
er's Division. All resistance had ceased before the 



* Note -—General Lee's cavalry had been so severely 
handled on the 8th that Banks appears to have been anxi- 
ous to pet them, and the trains, which had been such a bur- 
den to him at Mansfield, and mostly captured, out of the 
wav Thus, with the badly beaten detachment oi the ,16th 
Corps, all were sent on to Grand Ecore in advance of the 
battle of the 9tb. Lee testified in this mattes that Banks 
ordered him to push on to Grand Ecore with all possible 
speed, and if wagons broke down he was not to stop to re- 
pair them, but to burn them and their contents by the road- 
side' It would seem that Banks, on the 9th, was hoping tor 
nothm" better than to reach Ecore with his army, if possi- 
ble, where he could have the protection of the gunboats. 
After 4 p m ., in the lull that preceded the storm about to 
burst, he said, with a sigh of relief: "There will be no fight 
to-dav" Had that expectation been realized there is little 
doubt that he would have put the entire armv in retreat 
during the night: His generals of the 19th Corps would 
have gladly acquiesced: 



206 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

32nd Iowa came upon the line of the 35th Iowa, in 
the fast-darkening woods, probably two or three 
hundred yards west of Benedict's position, as shown 
on the battle-plan. When Churchill's and Walker's 
Divisions were routed, driven off in panic, the battle 
was ended. * 



All this clearly shows that had Shaw's Brigade 
given way in the early part of the action, and had the 
32nd Iowa not made its stubborn resistance, "Walk- 
er's splendid Division" would have pushed on un- 
checked; — Tappan's and Parson's Brigades, con- 
necting with Walker's right would have taken 
Lynch and Mower on the flank; — and the story 
might have had a very different ending! Taylor 
says he lost the victory because Churchill failed 



* Note: — C. S. Barcla}', of West Liberty, Iowa, more 
than 25 years after the battle of Pleasant Hill, said to the 
writer: — "I will never forget my first meeting with you. I was 
First Sergeant in the 351 h Iowa Infantry, and as we were 
following the retreating rebels at Pleasant Hill, April 9th 
1864,and heard the noise of a party approaching us from the 
front, we came to a halt, and I ordered the company to make 
ready, and in a moment more would have fired. The smoke 
of the battle and the darkness of the time, in the thick 
woods, hid everything from sight. I presume you never 
knew how narrowly you escaped, nor how imminent the 
danger was." 

In the conversation that followed the circumstances 
were discussed as then and now remembered by boih of us. 
That to approach our lines from that direction at that hour 
was full of peril, is not to be doubted. That it was accom- 
plished without disaster was rare good forture. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 207 

to take sufficient ground to the right! "It might 
have been!" 

After the 32nd Iowa reached the open ground, in 
rear of the position they held during the day, efforts 
were made to have care given to those left on the 
field. Quarter Master McCall, with some comrades, 
and carrying a lantern, tried to reach them but was 
stopped by an officer of the 19th Corps in charge 
of a guard, ordered to put out his light 
and not permitted to go farther Colonel Scott found 
General Mower, explained to him the situation, as- 
sured him that the enemy had retreated for beyond 
the position of the dead and wounded of the 32nd 
Iowa, and implored him to advance our lines so as to 
enable our wounded to be cared for. The General 
was just then intent on securing part of a battery 
which the enemy had abandoned in the woods, and 
promised to comply when that had been gathered in. 
But it was not done. The weary and broken heart- 
ed men of the 32ud Iowa compared notes as to the 
casualties, as best they could, stood in deep gloom 
about their camp fires, and finally dropped down and 
slept the sleep of exhaustion until they were called 
into line and told that our army had stolen away dur- 
ing the night! 



In the accounts of the Battle of Pleasant Hill it 
has not been practicable to give in detail the several 
positions, nor to intelligently describe the conduct 
of the several bodies of troops of the 19th Army 



208 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Corps that were there engaged. Some of the official 
reports made by their officers are obscure, some of 
them are misleading, and some of them are viciously 
untrue. No doubt but some of those troops fought 
bravely on the 9th of April, That they should have 
been in good heart to meet those who had so severe- 
ly handled them on the 8th was hardly to be expect- 
ed. Just how long they resisted the attacks made 
upon them is not shown by the casualties they sus- 
tained, as their losses of the 8th and 9th are report- 
ed together. Their heaviest losses are known to 
have occurred at Mansfield, and not at Pleasant 
Hill. 

The reports of Emory and Dwight were meant 
for New England readers. The former refers to a 
body of Smith's troops as giving way in connection 
with a part of his (Emory's) command, while, as a 
matter of fact there were none of Smith's troops in 
the position named! Dwight goes out of his way to 
lug in the absurd falsehood that Shaw's Brigade fled 
through his (Dwighl's)lines! Our historian confess- 
es that in the face of stories which are known to be 
false and believed to be malignant he is not inclined 
to accept other statements unless known to be true. 
This includes maps and plans of the battle-field which 
accompany the official Reports of their officers. It 
has therefore been thought best as far as deemed im- 
portant to do so to approximate the facts referred to 
by other and more reliable witnesses. 

The report made by Col. Pessenden, 30th Maine 
Infantry, is not open tu this criticism, and bears on 
its face many evidences of candor and frankness. 
He was in command of his regiment until the death 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS, 



209 



of Colonel Benedict devolved upon him the command 
of the Brigade. His position was to the left and 
rear of the 32nd Iowa; and, unfortunately, so far to 
the left and rear as to leave the left flank of the 32nd 
Iowa exposed, and a gap through which the enemy 
charged unobstructed upon oar troops in the rear. 
Of this charge he says: — 

"The enemy advanced rapidly in two lines upon 
the left and across the front of the brigade, at a 
charging pace, delivering a very heavy fire as they 
advanced. - The enemy charged swiftly 

from the slope and commenced crossing the ditch, 
striking at our men in the ditch with their clubbed 
muskets. So rapidly did they advance that Lt. Col. 
Blanchard. who had gone to the ditch in front of his 
regiment to observe the position of the enemy, had 
not time to place himself behind his regiment before 
the brigade commenced retiring in confusion. The 
regiments fell back beginning with 165 New York on 
the right, followed by the 162 New York, 
the 173 New York next, delivering their fire as they 
fell back in disorder to the rear. I commanded the 
30th Maine, upon the left of the line, and had received 
orders to retreat when the other regiments fell back 

This is quoted to illustrate a notable difference 
between the orders of the officers as well as the con- 
duct of the men of these two Army Corps. Com- 
manders of Brigades in the 16th Corps said— "You 
will hold this position at all hazards!'' Those in the 
19th Corps said— '-Retreat when the other regiments 
fall back!" 

It is proper to note that under these adverse 



210 THIKTY SECOND REGIMENT 

circumstances Col. Fessenden and many of his men 
fought bravely to the end of the action; — at first re- 
tiring in some confusion, and then reforming on Gen. 
Smith's troops, charging the enemy, and following 
him up his mad flight. 



There is one thing in this battle in connection 
with the participation therein of Col. Shaw's Brigade, 
that has never in any of the official reports had the 
consideration to which it is entitled; to-wit: — The 
fact that this Brigade was selected to occupy lite -post of 
honor, the extreme front in the line of defense against the 
attack of an exultant foe, flushed with recent victory, and 
following his fleeing and demoralized antagonist. 

The circumstances justify the modesty which has 
heretofore characterized the Reports made by mem- 
bers of the Brigade, Some may raise a question of 
taste as to any mention of this fact even after a lapse 
of more than thirty years. The only question that 
can be raised is the question of taste, and we have 
venerable authority for not discussing that. There 
is no reasonable question as to the facts. General 
Banks says: — "The center was strengthened by a 
brigade of Gen. Smith's forces, whose main force 
was held in reserve." General Smith says: — "The 
2nd Brigade, 3d Division, Col. Wra. T. Shaw, com- 
manding, wcs ordered early in the morning to report 
to Brig. General Emory, and was stationed in front 
of the center of his command." General Emory 
days: — ''After establishing my line General McMillan 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 211 

was withdrawn and placed on the right and rear as a 
reserve, and his place was supplied by a brigade of 
General Smith's division." Colonel Shaw says: — "I 
was ordered to report with my brigade to General 
Banks. By him I was ordered to proceed to the 
front and report to General Emory. He ordered me 
to relieve General McMillan, who was posted on the 
left of the Mansfield road." 

These several statements sufficiently establish 
the fact that General Banks, his chief of staff, Gen. 
Franklin, Gen. Emory, and General Smith, in con- 
sultation, agreed that the Mansfield road was the 
point open to the first attack of the enemy; that it 
could not safely be entrusted to any of the troops 
that had been falling back under pressure of the de- 
feat and pursuit of the previous day; that General 
Smith was called on to furnish a Brigade and a Com- 
mander that could and would withstand the demoral- 
izing causes then existing; and that Shaw's Brigade, 
the 14th Iowa Infantry, the 27th Iowa Infantry, the 
:}'2nd Iowa Infantry, and the 24th Missouri Infantry, 
was the Brigade which General Smith selected for this 
■post of honor. 

That it w-as the post of honor and danger was 
soon proven by the repeated and desperate assaults 
made thereon by the enemy. His veiw of the situa- 
tion is shown by the manner as well as the fact of 
these assaults. The flower of the enemy's cavalry 
was hurled upon our ranks, in the full expectation 
that they would rush through to the open ground 
about the village of Pleasant Hill and there put to 
flight or the sword an army whose commander had 
already sent his supplies and transportation to seek 



212 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

protection from the cover of his gunboats! While 
this unsurpassed cavalry charge was being met by 
the right of the Brigade, and the cavalry literally an- 
nihilated, Walker advanced upon the left of the Bri- 
gade with "his splendid Division of infantry," bayo- 
nets fixed, bound for Pleasant Hill, expecting no hin- 
drance. Of what followed General Dick Taylor, with 
much significance, says: — "The stubborn" resistance 
offered by the enemy along the whole line soon con- 
vinced me that he had received reinforcements of 
fresh troops, and T ordered forward Polignac. The 
fresh troops held their ground manfully." This 
tribute to the valor of the "fresh troops" is as sin- 
cere as it is mournful, for he adds that these attacks 
occasioned "great sacrifice of life, "and that the loss, 
"both in numbers and in quality has been heavy to 
the country, the loss being 2,500." 

It does not follow, nor is it claimed or intimated, 
that in this army there were not other brigades that 
would have held this ground manfully. It is meant, 
however, to state the undeniable fact that Shaw's 
Brigade "was stationed in front of the center of 
Emory's command," and that the brigade that had 
been in that position "was withdrawn and placed on 
the right and rear as a reserve," and it is now assert- 
ed that this was done because of the supposed im- 
portance of holding this position "at all hazard," and 
in full anticipation of the desperate assaults soon to 
be made upon it. This was fully realized by the men 
of this Brigade at the time, and the full significance 
of the language of General Smith was understood, 
when he said, as the Brigade was moving into posi- 
tion:— "Boys! Your State has never been disgraced; 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 213 

— remember where you belong - !" 

In response to this greeting of their brave Gen- 
eral these men earned for their command the title of 
the "Iron Brigade." and enabled their grim brigade 
commander to truthfully say that they were "first in 
the fight, longest in the fight, in the hardest of the 
fight, last to leave the field, and suffered one-half of 
the entire loss of the battle, losing three times as 
many officers and men as any brigade engaged." 



Perhaps it were best to say nothing more on this 
painful and most humiliating affair; but as cumula- 
tive and corroborating evidence it may be well to 
contrast the testimony of General Banks and Sur- 
geon Sanger, as taken by the joint committee of 
Congress on the Conduct of the War, in December 
1864. and January 1865. General Banks said: — 

"At 4 o'clock the enemy assaulted our lines with 
almost demoniac energy. The contest was desper- 
ate. If the enemy defeated that army he had the 
best part of the Mississippi fleet in his possession, 
and would deprive New Orleans of its only effective 
land defence. Both armies comprehending the stake 
at issue, there was a most terrible contest. It lasted 
three hours. The enemy succeeded in breaking our 
line on the right, but our forces being strengthened 
by ihe reserve the enemy was driven from the field. 
It was as clear a rout as it was possible for any army 
to suffer. 

We were uncertain as to the fleet. 

It was a question whether we should 



214 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

remain at Pleasant Hill, in the condition we were in, 
the enemy although beaten being- much stronger 
than we were, or fall back to Grand Ecore, where we 
could re-establish our communications with the fleet, 
unite and reorganize our forces, already much shat- 
ered in these three battles. After con- 

sulting with my officers, I concluded, against my own 
judgment, to fall back to Grand Ecore and reorgan- 
ize I had given orders after this battle, at 10 or 11 
o'clock in the evening, to make preparations for an 
advance at daybreak, and to turn the trains then on 
the road to Grand Ecore to the front. 

General Smith, who came to see me, said, 'What 
are you going to do?' I said, 'We move forward in 
the morning,' General Franklin, General Emory, 
General Dwight. and the officers of my immediate 
command, were very strongly of the opinion that 
nothing could be effected by an advance; that it was 
impracticable in the condition of the river to reach 
Shreveport, and that it was dangerous to remain 
where we were. They urged very strongly that we 
should retire to Grand Ecore and reorganize, perhaps 
find another route on the opposite side of the river, 
where we might possibly join General Steele. 

Between 11 and 12 o'clock at-night I consented to 
that arrangement, and, all things considered, it was 
probably the best course that could have been taken. 
But that is an open question, as all such questions 
are. We held the field of battle. Our dead were 
buried. The wounded men were brought in and 
placed in the best hospitals we could organize, and 
surgeons were left with them with provisions, medi- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 



215 



cities and supplies, and at daybreak we fell back to 
Grand Ecore." 



Before the same Committee Surgeon Sanger 

said: — 

I am Surgeon of U. S. Volunteers. Accompani- 
ed the Red River Expedition under General Banks. 
Was present at the battles of Sabine Cross Roads and 
Pleasant Hill. We brought off about half of our 
wounded in the first battle, and at the second all that 
could march. 

Question. It has been said that at Pleasant Hill 
we won a victory; how happened it that we left our 
wounded in the hands of the enemy? 

Answer. That is a great mystery to me. I was 
at that time medical director of the 19th corps. I saw 
General Franklin immediately after our victory, as 
we assume it to be. I told him that in the hurry of 
sending off the supply trains in the morning, they 
had sent off my medical supply train. He said at 
that time that it should be ordered to return at once. 
To make sure of the matter, I went to see Major 
Drake, General Bank's adjutant general. He told me 
to give myself no uneasiness about the matter, as he 
would send off a courier at once and order up the med- 
ical supply train. 1 saw General Franklin and told 
him that I should be busy all night, and in case the 
army moved off in any direction he must apprise me. 
I was told that I should be informed. That was the 
last I knew of the matter until between six and seven 
o'clock the next morning, when observing a little 
squad of cavalry drawn up in front of my hospital, T 



216 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

went out and inquired, and found that the army had 
retired during the night, and that this cavalry was 
the rear guard about leaving the place, They said 
they had seen the enemy approaching in the distance; 
whereupon I left one or two assistant surgeons with 
instructions, mounted my horse, and rode off. 

Ques. Did you see any real necessity for leav- 
ing our wounded in the hands of the enemy there? 

Ans. Yes, sir; we had no transportation at that 
time of any kind. There was not a wagon of any 
kind there. 

Ques. You say your medical train had been sent 
off? 

Ans. Yes, sir; but that was -done in the morn- 
ing. From what little I learned of the matter, I un- 
derstood that it was expected, if the enemy attacked 
at all, they would attack early in the morning at 
Pleasant Hill; and as one of the causes of the disas- 
ter of the day before was the presence of the trains, 
they determined that should not be the cause of a 
disaster again, and moved them off. We waited un- 
til four or live o'clock, when General Banks remark- 
ed that the enemy would not probably attack us that 
day. and that we were all right; but it was not half 
an hour after that before the enemy commenced with 
a yell and a charge. 

Ques. As we drove the enemy at Pleasant Hill, 
what prevented our forces from taking care of the 
wounded? 

Ans. I went back myself two days after within 
the lines of the enemy, under a flag of truce. / do 
not think that ice knew at that time the completeness of our 
victory over the enemy. As near as I could learn, we 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 217 

bad driven them back at dark into the woods, but how 
completely they were routed we did not know at that 
time. We had not quite gained the possession of the 
water for which we were fighting, although we had 
driven the enemy back. The provision and supply 
train starting off in the morning to the rear, had goc 
eighteen or nineteen miles from Pleasant Hill, and 
the next morning they gave me as a reason why my 
medical supply train was not sent back, that they 
could not turn around their entire train; and if the 
enemy had advanced in the morning we would have 
been without supplies, and with the risk of not getting 
any water. General A. J. Smith was strongly in fa- 
vor of advancing, and insisted upon it that he would 
not retire. I met him as I left Pleasant Hill, and he 
insisted that we should have gone on; that our vic- 
tory was complete. When I returned to Pleasant 
Hill two clays afterwards, under a flag of truce, trav- 
eling about forty miles in the enemy's country, I 
there learned from the assistant surgeons whom I 
left in charge that the enemy did not come in there 
until about ten o'clock the next day, and that the few 
skirmishing men that we had seen in the distance 
were our own men, who had been left on picket and 
not relieved, and stragglers who were working their 
way back to what they supposed was our camp. 

In regard to the battle of the day previous at Sa- 
bine Crossroads, I learned that so far from the en- 
gagement being so very serious a disaster to us, the 
enemy, after having taken our cavalry trains and 
making a second charge, felt themselves so thorough- 
ly beaten and routed that they fled all the way back 
to Mansfield, intending, if we pursued them the next 



218 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

morning 1 , to fall back to Shreveport; but finding that 
we did not follow them, they followed us. The ene- 
my acknowledged a complete rout of their army on 
the second day. and also acknowledged that if we had 
advanced a little further that night, or had advanced 
the next morning, we could have captured all their 
artillery, or, at least, could have retaken all which 
they had taken from us. I had a talk with the medi- 
cal director of the rebel army when I went into their 
lines. He wanted to know the number of our wound- 
ed. T admitted only nine hundred. He told me that 
they had at least fifteen hundred wounded that they 
knew of, and a great many more that they had not 
ascertained. So that the number of their wounded 
was equal to, if not greater than, that of ours. 

Ques. Do you know whether our wounded had 
suffered for want of supplies before you went back? 

Ans. No, sir; not very much. At the time I left 
1 knew of a place where there was some corn-meal, 
and I directed my assistant surgeons, who had charge 
of them, to get that meal and make them some por- 
ridge. They also succeeded in getting some chick- 
ens, and the like, so that they did not suffer very 
much, except in a few instances where they had not 
been operated upon, for the rebel surgeons took the 
instruments which I had left with our assistant sur- 
geons. I was back on the second day after the bat- 
tle, and after operating myself all day. I left a case 
of instruments, for which I got a protection, and from 
that time I never heard any complaint. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

,l As Others See Us." 

This chapter is meant to be read only by mem- 
bers of the 32nd Iowa Infantry, in their families, or 
by their confidential friends. It contains nothing 
that may properly be called history, and may be 
passed without attention by the student or casual 
reader. Other chapters contain more or less kindly 
mention of the regiment, and of individual members, 
made in connection with statements of fact, in official 
reports, or otherwise. But a few pages are here giv- 
en to expressions of individual opinion and sympathy 
from partial friends, and they are addressed now to 
the softer side of the grizzled veterans who still sur- 
vive, and to the memory of those who fell at Pleas- 
ant Hill thirty -two years ago. As reminders of the 
biennial reunions of the veterans who were absent, 
and those who were present when they were first 
read, it is thought they may possess some interest. 



Albert Swalm, a member of the 33d Iowa Infan- 
try, and at that time with Gen. Steele advancing up- 
on Shreveport through Arkansas, upon whom Kirby 
Smith hurled all of his available forces after Banks 
fled from Pleasant Hill, moved by comradeship on 
the occasion to which he refers, wrote the following 
letter. Col. Swalm is an able and diligent student 



220 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

of military history, and his utterances always com- 
mand respectful attention. 

Oskaloosa, Iowa, Sept. 9, 1889. 

My Dear Col. Scott: — I note that your old regi- 
ment, the 32nd Iowa, is to have one of those blessed 
days, called a reunion, and through you, I want to 
add my word of admiration for your command for 
their gallant conduct at Pleasant Hill. It is many 
years since they performed that valorous action, but 
as the smoke and the mists of the war clear away 
that occasion stands out one among the half dozen of 
the whole war, wherein the loss entailed showed an 
approved courage. I have made this matter a topic 
of much consideration and study, and the records will 
prove this to be so: That none of the English guards 
at Waterloo suffered as you did at Pleasant Hill; that 
but four regiments in the Franco- Prussian war rank 
with you in percentage of loss, and that but very few 
in our own army stand with you in this relation and 
in this high honor. Some of your command I have 
known for years and remember with pride brave old 
Hutchinson, now sleeping in death. At Pleasant 
Hill the 32nd Iowa added a crown of glory to Iowa 
honor and bravery, and a little later the 33d added its 
chaplet at Saline River, with same foe under Kirby 
Smith, and disastrously repulsed them,- but yet with 
jjreat loss — every other man being on the casualty 
list. But I greet you and the boys of the 32nd as 
men who occupied a place of extreme peril, and like 
Spartan sons, held high the honor of soldiers. 

Your friend. 

Albert Swalm. 

R. P. Clarkson, a member of the 12th Iowa In- 
fantry, who passed through "Hell's Hollow" at 
Shiloh. where the "Iowa Hornet's Nest" Brigade 
alone held the advance line until 4 p. m., and saved 
Grant's army by sacrificing their own brigade, should 
be a competent witness. He saw all of the fighting 
that took place on the open ground, the 35th Iowa 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 221 

being with Gen. Mower, in reserve. The position of 
Shaw's Brigade was beyond the timber, a mile in ad- 
vance of Smith's troops in reserve. Tn a letter to 
the Compiler of this History, Mr. Clarkson wrote as 
follows: — 

* - I know that Gen. A. J. Smith's 
little Division, of which the 82nd Iowa Infantry was 
an important part, was a chief factor in gaining the 
victory at Pleasant Hill. It was the finest view of a 
battle I ever had. nearly the whole of the movement 
of the Union troops being visible from my stand- 
point until we crossed the deeply ditched creek, and 
entered the woods at the close of the fighting. At 
that time I was on detached service with the 35th 
Towa Infantry; and well remember the pleasure we 
felt in knowing that the 32nd Iowa, which had a posi- 
tion in a hotter and more desperate portion of the 
line of battle than we had, made such a splendid 
record in beating back and driving into confusion 
and a never-halting retreat the army of Gen. Dick 
Taylor, which had gained a great victory the day be- 
fore at Sabine Cross Roads, and expected to capture 
the remainder of General Bank's army at Pleasant 
Hill. 

But 'they counted without their host.' I talked 
with you that night", and with other members of the 
32nd Iowa, and I well remember that we were all 
very proud of the splendid record the regiment made 
that day, and have been proud of it ever since. It 
was an Iowa and a Nation honoring day, for it was a 
victory won by the desperate valor and patriotism of 
a small army over a largely superior force that was 
inspired by the crushing defeat it had administered 



222 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

to the advance of our army the previous day." 

L. D. Ingersoll, in "Iowa and the Rebellion," 
published in 1866, by Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia, 
says: — "It is certain no regiment ever fought with a 
sublimer courage than did the 32nd Iowa on the field 
of Pleasant Hill. Its heroism and its sacrifices were 
worthy of a better fate than a retreat from the scene 
of its splendid daring and its glory. The fame of its 
gallant conduct soon spread all over Iowa, as it would 
have spread all over the country had the command- 
ing general accepted the victory which the troops 
had given him. - Iowa gloried in the fame 

of her honored sons, and wept for their dead 
comrades who fell on the stricken field," 

S. H. M. Byers, in his '"Iowa in War Times," 
published in 1888, says:--"The Thirty Second Iowa, 
with half its officers and men killed or wounded, sur- 
rounded, and alone, heroically cut its way through 
the rebel lines. Scott and his men had 

been rather isolated from the brigade all the time, 
owing to the nature of the ground. In a sense the 
Thirty Second fought a battle of its own, and alone — 
and this with unparalleled skill and heroism. Pa- 
cing in three directions, to meet the exigency, Gol. 
Scott's little band fought fearlessly on. 
Pierce fighting than occurred on front, flank and rear 
of the Thirty-Second Iowa at Pleasant Hill is scarce- 
ly recorded in history. It seems almost 
incredible that the Thirty-Second, cut off from its 
brigade and entirely surrounded, wich nearly one- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 223 

half of its numbers killed or wounded, not only held 
its own. but fought its way through to our most ad- 
vanced troops, the 35th Iowa under Col. Hill." 

At the biennial reunion at Ft. Dodge in Septem- 
ber. 1893, an address was delivered on invitation by 
Miss Mary Avis Scott. After discussing some of 
the details of the battle of Pleasant Hill, Miss Scott 
said: — 

"There are elements of moral heroism illustrat 
ed by the conduct of the 32nd Iowa Infantry in this 
action that are entitled to special notice. The regi- 
ment was placed in the very front of an attack by a 
victorious enemy who advanced with little expecta- 
tion of a stubborn resistance. His charge was im- 
petuous and confident. His attack was met so stern- 
ly that he faltered and changed his course, and this 
too. by men who well knew that their army had been 
retreating throughout the day. The ground was held 
until there was no enemy in front; — until the amuni- 
tion, which had been carefully saved for an hour was 
nearly exhausted; — and until 210 men out of 440 had 
been either killed, wounded or captured. Even then 
to make their way in safety to the shelter of friendly 
lines, from a direction supposed to be occupied sole- 
ly by the enemy, and the niyht settling down over 
darkening woods, was no mean achievement. 

But there are victories which are not victories. 
And this is one. Gen. Banks seemed not to know 
that the army was saved and the battle won. The 
retreat which had begun even before the battle and 
which had been going on all day appears, at this date 
and from the standpoint of an entirely unprejudiced 



224 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

student of history, very much as it must have ap- 
peared to those most nearly interested — an immense 
blunder, the result of the panic caused by the rebel 
victory at Mansfield no doubt, but none the less a 
blunder. It was an act of unnecessary cowardice 
and most unexampled brutality to have thus yielded 
the victory, the dead and the wounded to the defeat- 
ed enemy. 

And after all this — to be ordered away at mid- 
night from afield they had won, and to leave their 
dead and wounded to the care of an enemy who had 
already fled many miles from the scene of his disas- 
ter, was brutality almost incredible and certainly 
without precedent. The abandonment of the wound- 
ed and dead at this time was nothing less than an 
heart breaking insult and offense to the living. 

If these expressions seem harsh and bitter let it 
be remembered we are talking now within the circle 
of our own family, where it is expected the truth un- 
varnished may be told. 

Pleasant Hill, although without profit to r the 
cause, was undoubtedly the best example of the'whole 
war of the courage and patriotism of the volunteer 
soldiers, and yet can we wonder that Iowa was dis- 
heartened where the press of the day, in all accounts 
failed to mention the soldiers who made the" army's 
record for the day? More still, what thought comes 
to us in reading Gen. Grant's memoirs, written after 
the haste of battle was over and the- dawn of peace 
had, or should have, brought cool reasoning powers, 
to find the whole Red River Expedition dismissed 
with barely one page. 

"A prophet is not without honor save in his own 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 225 

country." When generations hence the merry school 
boy shall feel his pulse quicken and his eyes grow 
mi.st> over the truthful records of that day's work 
then will it be known that not only in Greece had men 
kept the past, but that Iowans too, prefer honor and 
death to life and disgrace. There is not a volunteer 
soldier of the Republic anywhere who would ex 
change his honorable record in the service of his 
country, in behalf of freedom and mankind, in behalf 
of the freest and best government on the face of the 
earth for the untold wealth of the Indies. Much less 
any soldier of the 32nd Iowa who would exchange 
his honorable record at Pleasant Hill for any consid- 
eration. He would like to blot out the feeling of des- 
olation the memory entails. He would like to have 
his bravery understood and see it properly recorded 
in the annals of our land. But forget it— that will he 
never. - 

The men of the "Iron Brigade" were the heroes 
of the tight, but this might not have been, no matter 
what undividual courage the men held, had they not 
been commanded by an officer whose skill and brav- 
ery have never been questioned. The numerous ex- 
amples of bravery which the war of the Rebellion, in 
common with other wars give us, would never have 
been, had they depended upon an ungeneraled mass 
of human beings, even though their individual 
strength and prowess were that of a Goliath. Nor 
would these facts have been more possible to an un- 
assisted commander, let his skill and knowledge of 
military tactics be great as it might. And so al- 
though the "Iron Brigade" gave Col. Shaw his op- 
portunity, not less did he by his able generalship 



226 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

make the Iron Brigade. 

'In a sense the 32nd Iowa fought here a battle of 
its own, and alone, with unparalleled heroism. Fa- 
cing in three directions, to meet the exigency, this 
little band fought fearlessly on. Fiercer fighting is 
not yet recorded in history.' The biography of brav- 
er men will never be written. Balaklava. so long 
immortalized in song and story, must stand second to 
Pleasant Hill as a hill of sacrifice. Lord Cardigan's 
six hundred must yield the palm of bravery, heroism 
and patriotism to Iowa's little band of four hundred." 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



Unwritten History; Mutiny In The Camp. Cap- 
tain Burns' Story of Red River and 
Pleasant Hill. 

Captain William S. Burns, of Bath. N. Y.. in 
1879 wrote his recollections of this campaign, which 
were published in the Philadelphia Times. He was 
moved to do this by statements made by Major Hoff- 
man in a work published by him about that time, en- 
titled "Camp, Court and Siege.*' The Major was 
Chief of Staff to General Franklin, and should have 
known the facts about which he wrote, yet in his 
book he stated that "General Banks wanted to con- 
tinue his onward march to Shreveport" after our vic- 
tory at Pleasant Hill, but that "General A, J. Smith 
opposed it." 

Hoffman's book also contains the statement that 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 227 

at Grand Ecore ' 4 a curious incident occurred. An 
officer in high position came to General Franklin 
and proposed to put Banks on board of a 
steamer and send him to New Orleans, and that Frank- 
lin should take command. Of course 
Franklin treated it as a joke, and laughed it off. 
But there can be no doubt that the officer was in 
earnest." 

Captain Burns controverts very conclusively the 
statements that Smith opposed the advance; but 
agrees that the other statement is true, and that the 
"officer in high position" who made the mutinous 
proposition to General Franklin was none other than 
General A.J. Smith; and that he proposed that course 
immediately after the battle of Pleasant Hill, as a 
means of saving the army, and extricating the fleet 
of Admiral Porter, both of which he regarded as in 
an extremely critical situation, and one that required 
generalship not possessed by Banks! Extracts from 
Captain Burns' paper will be given. They throw 
much light on certain points that have heretofore 
been studiously concealed or misrepresented. 

Before quoting from Captain Burns a word of 
explanation may be in order. It was currently re- 
ported in the ranks that the Head Quarters train of 
General Banks carried a supply of Champaigne, and 
other wines. It was quite generally accepted that if 
any supplies of that order were in charge of the 
steward of General Smith's mess, they would com- 
prise good whiskey, rather than the lighter drinks. 
It was understood, and was a matter of surprise, that 
Captain Burns declined with thanks, politely but 
firmly, all invitations to indulge in any beverage 



228 THIRTY SECOND KEGIMENT 

stronger than such coffee as the army afforded. He 
was a member of General Smith's military family 
and mess, being Acting Assistant Inspector General 
on the Staff; and his adherance to principles of total 
abstinence in that atmosphere and climate caused 
him to be greatly esteemed by the Iowa troops. He 
was regarded as being always cool, capable and re- 
liable, let the emergency be what it might; and this 
view was by no means universal in respect to others 
of that mess. Also being a gentleman as well as an 
officer, no man could make a statement of fact that 
would more readily be accepted as true by the 32nd 

Iowa Infantry. 

In the light of these statements the astounding 

facts narrated by Captain Barns are not to be ques- 
tioned. In contrast to the course taken by General 
Smith in relation to hanging the negroes at Colum- 
bus, his action here indicates how thoroughly he 
must have been aroused. [See page 110.] 

After discussing the entire Red River campaign 
in the spirit in which the same is done in these 
pages, and the Battle of Pleasant Hill until the reb- 
els approached the reserves under Smith, as hereto- 
fore and herein narrated, Captain Burns says: — 

THE TIDE OF BATTLE TURNED. 

* * "It will be seen by the foregoing that 

General Emory attributes a defeat to Colonel Shaw, 

which in reality did not occur, as the enemy, instead 

of driving him. were passing to his rear, which Gen. 

Emory, in all probability, did not see, but which 

General Smith did, and who,under the circumstances, 

took the responsibility of ordering Colonel Shaw to 

retire. 

Toward the close of the foregoing described 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 



229 



struggle a portion of both Colonels Lynch and 
Moore's brigades, although reserve forces, were 
brought into active service, and fought gallantly. 
Our troops being hard pressed, slowly fell back upon 
the reserves, part of whom were quietly awaiting the 
order necessary to bring them into action. The de- 
cisive moment had arrived, and the final struggle 
commenced which resulted in so overwhelming a de- 
feat to the enemy. When the order was given, our 
troops rose to their feet and poured upon the advanc- 
ing foe a most murderous volley, and then with Gen- 
eral Mower at their head sprung forward in a grand 
charge. Even at this late day, when so many war 
experiences appear more like a dream than a reality, 
my blood warms with excitement as I remember this 
charge, having personally participated in it, riding 
at the head of one of the charging regiments with its 
commanding officer. It was the most exhilerating 
period of my war life. This new and fresh line of 
troops, added to those already lighting, thus hurled 
upon the enemy, was undoubtedly a surprise to them, 
and after the first effort to continue the struggle, 
they became convinced that the advance was irresist- 
ible,and in resigning themselves to the fate so inevita- 
ble, they, as if actuated by one common consent, 
turned and lied in the utmost panic, many of them 
throwing away their arms. Our victorious troops 
followed, capturing prisoners, small-arms, several 
pieces of artillery, and drove them for two or three 
miles, until darkness precluded any further advance. 
We now missed our cavalry which, if within reach, 
could have captured a large percentage of the rebel 
army I would here record an incident I witnessed 
when the battle was nearly over. General Smith 



230 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

and staff met General Banks on the held. General 
Banks took off his liat, shook hands with General 
Smith, and said: "You are dohii< your work nobly. 
General; may God bless you for it.'' 

THE UNION VICTORY COMPLETE. 

In the above description of the battle of Pleas 
ant Hill I have only given a protraiture of the part 
taken in it by General Smith's troops. I have endeav- 
ored to make it plain and at the same time concise, 
and have copied from the official reports of Colonels 
Shaw and Scott because I have never seen them in 
print, except the copy T have, for which I sent to 
Iowa. Although General Franklin had been wound- 
ed at Sabine Cross roads he kept his saddle during 
the whole of Pleasant Hill, overlooking the dispo- 
sition of his men, etc. And I would here state that 
my prejudice against General Stone, entertained ever 
since the battle of Ball's Bluff, entirely disappeared 
on the battle-field of Pleasant Hill, as I witnessed 
his ceaseless, tireless activity in the performance of 
his duties as General Banks' chief of staff, and when 
almost immediately after this battle he was relieved 
from his position and General Dwight appointed in 
his place, we felt one more scape goat, and as he left 
active service there and then he certainly took with 
him the sympathy of all in the Sixteenth army corps 
and also of many in the Nineteenth. 

Our victory being so complete, General Banks 
had ordered the retreating train to be halted, turned 
about, and everything prepared for an early advance 
next morning, and about midnight I fell asleep 
amidst the groans of the wounded, but at 2 o'clock in 
the morning was awakened to hear that we were or- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 231 

dered to retreat. Imagine our feelings! General 
Smith, upon receipt of the order, had gone to Gener- 
al Banks and urged an advance; but when he found 
the order to retreat was imperative, he begged 
the privilege of remaining on the field to bury the 
dead and take care of the wounded; but even this was 
not allowed. Disgraceful! Criminal! Inhuman! At 
this late day, when time has mitigated the intensity 
of the keen feeling then experienced by us who tied, 
my notes and letters seem overdrawn, and 1 hesitate 
to quote literally, but they are a true history, not 
only of my own personal sense of bitter humiliation 
— then in my mind — but are a true index of the inner 
consciousness of nine-tenths of the army; and, al- 
though "military discipline" kept it under, yet so 
the soldiers thought, talked, and some of them wrote; 
and even now, when fifteen years have passed away, 
it is difficult to review these events and write w r ith 
any decree of calmness or patience of our retreat. 

General Smith could not make up his mind- 
even at the command of his superior officer — to aban- 
don all the fruits of a dearly-bought victory; to leave 
his dead and dying in the hands of the enemy and to 
desert his fleet and 2,500 of his men to the risk of 
capture (for he "felt in his bones" that the enemy, 
when they found our army were retreating, would 
naturally attempt the capture and destruction of the 
fleet, etc.. and his surmise was correct, ) and he went 
to General Franklin and proposed the arrest of Gen. 
Banks; that Franklin should take command; that 
they should bury their dead; care for their wounded; 
push across to Springfield Landing, on the river, to 
the assistance of Admiral Porter and General T. 



232 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Kilby Smith, and then, if practicable, march upon 
Shreveport. But General Franklin would not con- 
sent, and General Smith was obliged to submit to the 
unavoidable and turn his back upon a retreating, de- 
moralized enemy. General Banks did. however, give 
us the post of honor — to covin- the retreat when no 
enemy followed. Colonel Lucas, of the cavalry di- 
vision, was with us in the rear, with about live hun- 
dred men. Our rear guard did not leave Pleasant 
Hill until just as day was breaking. During the 
forenoon, while our surgeons (who were left on the 
battle-field) were trying to make comfortable the 
wounded, they were surprised at the appearance of a 
party from the camp of the enemy- under a Hag of 
truce — asking permission to bury their dead, etc. 
Words can hardly express their astonishment when 
they learned our army was retreating. After so 
complete a victory, followed by so shameful an aban- 
donment of everything, I am not surprised that Col. 

Scott should write: — 

"This was a defeat, but a defeat only to our foe. 

The stake fougnt for by him was the Trans- Missis- 
sippi Empire; by our commanding General the safe 
retreat of his army. We won both Abandoned the 
former to the enemy after he had retreated, and gave 
to a brilliant victory all the moral results of a defeat. 
Finally, the Thirty-second Iowa blushes to place up- 
on its banner the name of a field where its dead and 
wounded were cruelly abandoned to an enemy who, 
many hours afterward, humbly asked leave to care 
for his own." 

It will be seen by the foregoing that my evidence 
differs from Major Hoffman's, and I will now pro- 
duce evidence from others. The correspondent of 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 233 

the Missouri Republican, in writing from Grand Ecore 
April 13. says: — 

'•General A. J. Smith protested against the re- 
treat from Pleasant Hill. He wanted to pursue the 
rebels on Sunday on his own hook, instead of falling 
back, but General Banks was firm and ordered all the 
forces to return." 

Doctor Sanger. Medical Director of the Nine- 
teenth army corps, says: — 

"General A. J. Smith was strongly in favor of 
advancing, and insisted upon it, that he would not 
retire. I met him as I left Pleasant Hill, and he in- 
sisted that we should have gone on; that our victory 
was complete." 

In reply to letters from me, I give the following 
extracts. General Franklin writes:— 

"Major Hoffman is certainly wrong in his state- 
ment that General Smith opposed a forward move- 
ment from Pleasant Hill. For my part the only 
question that came to me was, shall we stay at 
Pleasant Hill or go to Grand Ecore— not shall we ad- 
vance. The idea of an advance after what I had just 
experienced of Bank's generalship was odious to me, 
and the scattered condition of the troops made the 
junction a matter of several days." 

Dr. Staples (at that time surgeon on staff of Col. 
Shaw, but subsequently medical director on staff of 
General Smith) writes:— 

"At about 10 p. m. of the day of the battle an or- 
derly came to the hospital and informed me that we 
would resume our march for Shreveport next day 
and it would be necessary for me to make arrange- 
ments accordingly. At 1 o'clock in the morning the 



V34 THIKTY SECOND REGIMENT 

orderly returned and brought orders for me to make 
the best disposition I could of my wounded, for per- 
emptory orders had been received to commence fall- 
ing back on Grand Ecore at 3 o'clock. Subsequent- 
ly I learned from General Smith's own lips that 
about midnight, when he was resting in the full ex- 
pectation of resuming the advance in the morning as 
General Banks had assured him-in the early evening, 
an orderly came with orders to fall back at 3 o'clock. 
Astounded at the order, he immediately visited Gen. 
Banks to know what it meant. General Banks 
pleaded its necessity on the ground of the general 
discouragement of the officers of the Nineteenth corps, 
the scarcity of commissary stores, the great losses 
sustained, etc. He then requested permission to ad- 
vance with his own command alone; then to be allow- 
ed to remain a day upon the field to bury his dead, 
etc.. and finally to stay until 9 o'clock a. m., all of 
which was refused. It was then, as I understood 
from him, that, with grief and indignation, he sought 
General franklin's quarters and urged him to assume 
command by the arrest of Banks and he (Smith) 
would sustain him. But, meeting with no favor, he 
was compelled to reluctantly turn away and submit to 
the disgraceful retreat." 

Captain John Hough. Assistant Adjutant Gener- 
al on Staff of General Smith, writes: — 

"As to General Smith's request to General Frank- 
lin to put General Banks under arrest, ii was made 
after we got the order "to withdraw our troops si- 
lently from Pleasant Hill, and lake the rear of the 
column back to Grand Ecore, "" and before we left- 
Pleasant Hill. You will remember we got the order 



IOWA VOLUNTEEKH. 235 

about 11:30 o'clock, the night of the battle, and did 
not go until after daylight. During this interim the 
incident you speak of occurred. After receiving the 
order General Smith first went to Banks and begged 
to be allowed to stay until noon the next day, in or- 
der to bury his dead and take care of the wounded, as 
Ihe battle continued until dark and many were scat- 
tered where theycould not be found until daylight. 
Banks refused. General Smith then asked to be al- 
lowed to stay until daylight, so that the wounded 
could be properly cared for, stating that the details 
from his com mond were out gathering them up as 
fast as possible and he did not want to leave any un- 
cared for. but Banks' reply was that the order must 
be obeyed. Then General Smith went to Franklin 
and told him that the Thirteenth corps had formerly 
been under his (Smith's) command, and the divisions 
of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth corps, that were 
now under his command, would sustain Franklin, 
every officer and man of them, if he would jmt Banks 
under arrest, assume the command and go on with 
the expedition. Franklin did not care to assume the 
responsibility and replied: "Smith, that is mutiny," 
and there the matter dropped." 

Lieutenant John B. Pannes, ordnauce officer on 
General Smith's staff, writes: — 

"We had our headquarters under a tree near the 
battle-field. I had been sent by General Smith to 
follow Banks' retreating army to get ammunition. 
Having detained five wagons loaded with cartridges, 
I brought them back, and having corraled them, join- 
ed headquarters at about midnight. About two hours 
afterward some one shook me and said: ''General, 



236 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

you must prepare to retreat." I told the shaker I 
was not the General, but that he was asleep on the 
other side of the tree. Well, the General was awak- 
ened, and a conversation followed, which I but im 
perfectly understood. It was General Franklin who 
had awakened the General. Smith begged Franklin 
not to retreat, saying: "We have beaten them like 

h ." However, 1 at once received my orders to 

have my train hitched up, and went ahead about my 
business. 1 understood from Hough that General 
Smith told hitn to go with him to Franklin's head- 
quarters: that Smith asked Franklin to assume com- 
mand and to go ahead. Franklin was taking a cup 
of coffee. He stirred it slowly, and finally said: 
'•Smith, don't you know this is mutiny?" 

THE PROPOSITION SERIOUS. 

* * There may have been two occasions 
when General Smith made this request, and the sec- 
ond one may have been after our return to Grand 
Ecore, as [ know he was impatient there under re- 
straint and inactivity. It may be immaterial where 
it was in proving the fact that such a request actual- 
ly occurred, for this incident is so curious in the an- 
nals of war that the reading public was inclined to 
doubt it. At a late dinner party in Philadelphia, a 
gentleman said he had lately read Hoffman's "Camp, 
Court and Siege," which contained a curious state- 
ment, the truth of which he doubted. He then re- 
lated the incident. Fortunately, there was present 
a gentleman who was subsequently to the Red River 
campaign an officer on General Smith's staff (Mr. 
Hunn Hanson, a resident of Philadelphia,) who said 
the statement was true. That he had heard it from 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 237 

the General himself in his tent at Eastport after the 
battle of Nashville, and never before nor since had 
he heard the General mention it, nor had he ever 
seen him so moved as he was then, while relating- it. 
It is not strange that it should be doubted, even if 
related by so good an authority as Major Hoffman 
(who, I have forgotten to state, was* Adjutant Gener- 
al on General Franklin's staff); as it was unusual, to 
say the least, bnt the circumstances were unusual — a 
victorious army running away from a defeated one. 
If General Smith had been next in rank to General 
Banks I have no doubt he would have arrested him. 
but as General Franklin ranked him he was applied 
to. It is not to be wondered at that General Frank- 
lin declined to accede to his request, for it was a re- 
sponsible move to make. Had it been done and the 
onward movement been a success, in all probability 
it would have been condoned at Washington. But 
had the result been disastrous it is but reasonable to 
presume that both Generals Franklin and Smith 
would have been held to a strict accountability. Ma- 
jor Hoffman says: "Of course, General Franklin 
treated it as a joke and laughed it off. But there can 
be no doubt that the officer was m earnest.'' No one 
who belonged to the military family of General Smith 
at that time, and saw him in the privacy of his head- 
quarters that night and for days afterward, can ever 
forget his quivering lip and tear-dimmed eye when 
the subject was mentioned, nor could doubt his earn- 
estness, and when he made that proposition there 

could have been nothing in his demeanor to indicate 
a joke. He felt too keenly the humiliation aud dis- 
grace of the whole situation, and as General Frank- 



238 THIltTY SECOND ItEGIMENT 

lin states in above letter, 'he was certainly serious 
in the proposition." 

WAS PLEASANT HILL A VICTORY? 

That our troops gained a most decisive victory 
at Pleasant Hill is, I believe, universally admitted, 
although General Dick Taylor, in his address to his 
army, says: — "In spite of-the strength of the enemy's 
position, held by fresh troops of the Sixteenth corps, 
your valor and devotion triumphed over all. Dark- 
ness closed one of the hottest fights of the war. The 
morning of the 10th instant dawned upon a liying foe 
with our cavalry in pursuit, capturing prisoners at 
every step."' It was too true, we were ,k a flying foe," 
— more shame to General Banks than credit to our 
enemy — but we were not a defeated foe. General 
Taylor knew that the foregoing, "with our cavalry 
in pursuit, capturing prisoners at every step," was 
imaginary, unless he meant by prisoners our dead 
and wounded left upon the battle-field. Not only my 
own notes (already quoted) say "when no enemy fol 
lowed," but the correspondent of the Missouri Repub- 
lican writes: "In our retreat to Grand Ecore we 
were not molested in the least " The correspondent 
of the Chicago Tribune writes: "On Sunday and 
Monday the entire Union army retreated in good 
order to Grand Ecore without any molestation, the 
rebels being evidently unable to follow us after their 
defeat at Pleasant Hill." Here is also, evidence 
drawn from the enemy; it is from a captured letter: 
"That it was impossible for us to pursue Banks im- 
mediately after Pleasant Hill (under four or five 
days), can not be gainsaid. It was impossible, be- 
cause we did not have transportation for supplies, and 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 239 

impossible because we had been beaten, demoralized, 
paralyzed in the fight of the 9th/' Then, after de 
scribing the battle, he continues: "Neither our cav- 
alry nor that of the enemy did anything in this fight. 
The next morning after sunrise, very much to our 
surprise, we learned the enemy had retreated during 
the night. Cavalry was immediately sent in pursuit 
while the infantry was taken back to Mansfield for 
organization, rest and supply." and he naively adds: 
'•The enemy evidently considered himself whipped. 
He ought to know." The only exception I take to 
the above is that "neither our cavalry nor that of the 
enemy did anything in this fight." For the almost 
total annihilation of one of their cavalry regiments, 
as already described by me, is a fact, witnessed by 
too many to admit of contradiction. And as to their 
"cavalry was immediately sent in pursuit," I can not 
deny; but the fact remains, they did not overtake us, 
••capturing prisoners at every step." 

IF A VICTORY, WHY DID THE VICTORS RETREAT? 

Having whipped our enemy and driven him miles 
from the battle-field, then to be ordered to run! We 
could see no reason for it then and cannot yet, al- 
though it may be true, as General Banks says in his 
official report: "The occupation of Shreveport could 
not have been maintained." But itis not the object of 
this article to enter into the merits or otherwise of 
General Banks' decision to retreat, for, of course, 
there are two sides to every question, but do censure 
him for leaving the dead unburied and the wounded 
(i. e,, the greater part of them) to fall into the hands 
of the enemy. If we had to retreat, why such haste? 
Why not wait at least one day and care for the dead 



240 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

and dying? General Banks is hardly fair toward 
General Smith in his official report. He says: "Gen- 
eral Smith never declined co-operation with me. nor 
did he receive orders from me." It may seem 'to 
the prejudice of order and military discipline" for 
me. a subordinate, to question the veracity of a com- 
manding general, but when he says, "nor did he re- 
ceive orders from me," I do call his veracity into 
question. As I have shown. Colonel Shaw, of Gener- 
al Smith's command, reported to General Emory for 
duty at Pleasant Hill. As no one stood between 
Generals Banks and Smith — that is, with any authori- 
ty to command General Smith — who, but General 
Banks could have ordered this? And in Colonel 
Shaw's official report he says: "I was ordered to re- 
port with my brigade to General Banks. By him I 
was ordered to proceed to the front and report to 
General Emory." etc. I could give many other in- 
stances where General Smith did receive orders from 
General Banks. From the moment he reported to 
him at Alexandria he was under his orders and re- 
ceived ihem and obeyed them every day while under 
his command. To even imagine any other state of 
affairs would be ridiculous and not tenable. When I 
reach the cotton chapter of the expedition 1 will give 
one instance where he questioned one of Banks' or- 
ders; but that the circumstances fully justify him in 
this, will be, I think, the verdict of all honest men. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

Captain Burns* Story Of The Red River Cam- 
paign Concluded. 

Although the remainder of Captain Burns' ac- 
count of the campaign of Red River does not partic- 
ularly refer to the 32nd Iowa, yet many of the inci- 
dents related by him. and his discussion of men and 
movements serve to throw necessary light on the 
subject. No apology is therefore needed for giving 
it a place in this history. At first thought it might 
be supposed that there was little relation in history 
between the great fleet of Admiral Porter and the de- 
tachment of the 16th Army Corps commanded by A. 
J. Smith. But the facts are that these two forces, so 
enti rely dissimilar, each of them independently co- 
operating with Banks, had peculiar experiences. We 
have already seen something of the embarrassments, 
annoyances, and losses of the land forces under Gen- 
eral Smith. Let one fancy, if his imagination be 
equal to the occasion. Admiral Porter and his almost 
incomparable array of war vessels, wallowing for 
weeks in the miserable ditch that is properly called 
Red River when it contains water, compelled to aban- 
don and blow up his heaviest vessel, and enabled to 
save the remainder through the aid and skill of land- 
lubbers! No wonder the angry Admiral was incred- 
ulous and disgusted when it was proposed that the 
western * troops would bring him out of Red River 



* Note. Some umv think that any comparison of troops 
by reference to the different sections they represented is in 



242 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

as a lumberman would lift a raft over the shallows, 
by damming. He is reported to have said, when this 
was first proposed: "If damning Eed River would 
float thelieet we would have no trouble ingoing eith- 
er up or down !" 

It may here be stated that the failure of Red 
River to get up its customary Spring flood complete- 
ly changed the expected conditions. The river had 
not been so low at that season for many years. 
Whether this might have been anticipated by a more 
careful study of the conditions on the head waters of 
the stream may not now be determined, but former 
experiences gave the authorities confidence that a 
fleet of heavy boats at this season would be an effec- 
tive force. Instead, the necessity of extricating the 
boats from the great, peril in which they were con- 
trolled and delayed the movements of the troops for 
a considerable time. 

The story of Captain Burns continues: — 

THE ARMY AT GRAND ECORE. 

"I now resume from my journal. We arrived at 

bad taste. It may be so. But consider the provocation. 
The "Iron Brigade' 1 was placed at Pleasant Hill under com- 
mand of General Emory. In his report he charges a West- 
ern Brigade with bad conduct. His subordinate, Dwight, 
by name, charges Colonel Shaw with fleeiug through his 
(D wight's) lines in a demoralized condition. This charge 
was made in the cool and calm formulation of an official re- 
port, Dwight having already forgotten that when Shaw was 
taking a new position by orders from his superiors, in 
D wight's rear, that he (Dwight) immediately fell back to the 
rear of Shaw, and said to the latter: "For God's sake don't 
leave us here;— our men will not fight!" However unpleas- 
ant all this may be the truth of History demands that these 
things he recorded. Without such a record tlie story is in- 
complete, is misleading, and therefore not true! 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 



243 



Grand Ecore on the llth and found that the gunboats 
and transports had not returned from up the river. 
Next day ( li'th) we heard the heavy guns of the for- 
mer fighting their way back ( for. of course, when 
the rebels sent in a flag of truce and found us gone, 
they immediately went to the river to catch our boats,) 
On the 13th the tiring was continued, and as we lis- 
tened to the sounds of fighting between our forces 
and the enemy, and wondered why we were not or- 
dered to their assistance, our anxiety and impatience 
at our inactivity was hard to endure. Colonel Shaw 
came to our headquarters in the afternoon and asked 
permission to go to the rescue. General Smith told 
him he had no authority to send him and could get 
no orders to go himself, and used strong, emphatic 
language as to General Banks' lack of military abili- 
ty. The Colonel then said he would like to go with- 
out orders, and, as he received no positive orders to 
the contrary, he took about 1,000 of his men and 
started. As he was crossing the river he met Gen- 
eral Banks, who asked him where he was going. He 
replied: "To the rescue of our transports, troops, 
supplies, etc., with General Kilby Smith." Gener- 
al Banks then sent an order to General A. J. Smith 
to follow with about 1,000 men. which he did. Up- 
on our arrival at Campti (twelve or fifteen miles) we 
found our boats, with the enemy on both banks; the 
latter left at once. The boats had had a tough time 
and presented a mixed appearance. Sacks of oats, 
bales of hay, boxes of hard-tack, and every imagina- 
ble or get at-able article piled up for breastworks. 
We remained at Campti all night and returned to 
Grand Ecore the next day. The fleet had a hazard- 



244 THIRTY SECOND KEGIMENT 

ous gauntlet to run in coming down the river, having 
been attacked by Generals Liddell and Green with 
several ihousand men. Green and about four- hund- 
red and fifty men were left dead on the banks of the 
river. The loss on the fleet was about fifty in killed 
and wounded. For a graphic description of this 
fight see General T. Kilby Smith's testimony on 
pages 204 and 205 in Senate Documents, Second Ses- 
sion, Thirty eighth Congress, volume 2. 

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BANKS. 

We remained at Grand Ecore eight days, being 
detained by the navy. While there. Dr. N. R. Derby, 
Medical Director on General Smith's staff, was sent 
clown the river to Alexandria with our sick, and to 
get medical supplies. The boat was fired upon and 
the Doctor was struck by a bullet. For days his life 
was despaired of, and he was never able to resume 
his position. We were not much annoyed by the 
enemy during our stay at Grand Ecore. That they 
were about us and watching our movements we knew, 
and one day rather a serious attempt to pry into our 
camp having been made.and our cavalry being some- 
what pressed — strange as it may appear — the caval- 
ry were, by order of General Banks, ordered inside 
our lines of defense, or stockade *. 

General Banks says in his official report, of Gen- 
eral Smith: "When his thirty days were up he 
claimed the right at Grand Ecsore to return to Vick- 



* Note:— There possibly was never anything more ab- 
surd than the incident here mentioned . One can but smile, 
after a third of a century has elapsed, over the memory of 
seeing a body of cavalry massed, like so many cattle, inside 
a stockade! for protection! ! 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 245 

burg, irrespective of the condition of the army or the 
tleet, and did not consider himself at all responsible 
for the inevitable consequences of his withdrawal to 
the army and navy, nor for that detention which 
their preservation demanded. That responsibility I 
was called upon to assume in written orders." It is 
true, as above stated, that General Smith and his 
command were loaned for thirty days, and that time 
expired on April 10; and it is true that he was rest- 
less' and anxious under "the then state of affairs," 
but General Smith was too good a soldier to with- 
draw his command and abandon the rest of the army 
and navy to their destruction, when "their preserva- 
tion demanded" his presence and support. Even if 
Major Hoffman's statement as to the time and place 
when General Smith asked for the arrest of General 
Banks is true, it was not that the forces of General 
Banks should be abandoned, but that they should be 
"extricated." And when I reach Alexandria I will 
show that it was General Banks who meditated the 
abandonment of the fleet, and General Smith who as- 
sured Admiral Porter that he would never abandon 
him. 

ARTILLERY AND FLAG SIGNALS. 

On the 20th of April General Smith's command 
marched out to Natchitoches (about four miles) and 
encamped in line of battle. The object of this move- 
ment was to hold the enemy back while General 
Banks, with his army (or rather General Franklin, 
who had now been placed in command by General 
Banks) should move down the river toward Alexan- 
dria, and as soon as the road should be clear General 
Smith was to move and bring up the rear of the re- 



246 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

treating army. We remained in battle line nearly all 
day of the 21st, while the Thirteenth and Nineteenth 
corps were moving down the bank of the river. Dur- 
ing this day (21st) an officer arrived at our head- 
quarters and reported himself as a signal officer, with 
orders to report to General Smith for duty. Gener- 
al Smith's reply was a characteristic one: '"Well, 
lieutenant, T am glad to see you; make yourself at 
home; we have a pleasant family at headquarters and 
I think you will enjoy yourself with us, but. really, I 
don't think there will be any occasion for your sig- 
nals. My signals will be my artillery, and that sound 
can be heard easier than your flags can be seen.' T 
The lieutenant looked at him as if he had found a 
curiosity; but, of course, he remained with us in the 
rear, and waved his flags as occasion demanded. 

About dark (21st) we drew in our forces and fol- 
lowed the army. We had with us a brigade of cav- 
alry, under command of either Colonel Lucas, or 
Colonel Dudley, I forget which; as, during our long 
retreat, some days we had Colonel Lucas and other 
days Colonel Dudley. After a six days' march, and 
almost constant fighting, we re-arrived at Alexandria 
on the 25th. On the 22nd, 23rd and 24th, the enemy 
pressed us so closely that we had to form a regular- 
line of battle and fight them. Each fight lasted an 
hour or two and were quite brisk affairs, the enemy 
being repulsed every time. The brunt of this fight- 
ing fell to the lot of the Seventeenth corps, under 
General T. Kilby Smith. On the 24th the rebels 
opened upon us with artillery at 3 o'clock in the 
morning, some of their shells bursting in our open- 
air camp. About sunrise they made a furious attack, 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 247 

which was handsomely repelled, and was the last 
real .stroke they made, as they were well punished 
for disturbing- us at so early an hour. On the 23rd 
General Franklin had a more serious affair in the ad- 
vance than any one we had in the rear, as the rebels 
contested his crossing- the Cane river. The enemy 
followed us all the way to Alexandria and demonstrat- 
ed just enough to keep our artillery and the cavalry 
in "active service;" but we had no battle after the 
24th. 

AN OVATION TO GENEKAL SMITH. 

Upon our arrival at Alexandria, as General Smith 
rode to the front, after having kept in the rear for 
six days and fighting one-half of them, he was greet- 
ed with waving of hats, cheers and such shouts of 
welcome and admiration as must have been most 
gratifying. It was a perfect ovation, not only from 
his own men, but from the men of the Thirteenth 
and Nineteenth corps, right up to the tent of Gener- 
al Banks. And his staff, although of minor import- 
ance, as we galloped with him down that long line 
of cheering men, were proud to belong to him, and 
that we had endured the hardships and dangers of 
the last few weeks with him. How refreshing it was 
that night, when we retired to our tents and took off 
our clothes, something we had not done for six 
nights. 

Owing to the low stage of the water in the river 
it was very evident that the gunboats could not pass 
over the falls at Alexandria, and between Admiral 
Porter and General Banks it was decided that the 
only way to save the fleet was to build a dam and 
thereby raise the water on the falls, which skillful 



248 THIRTY SECOND liKGJMENT 

feat of engineering was given to Lieutenant Colonel 
Bailey (Fourth Wisconsin) to accomplish. Endeavor- 
ing to limit this article to a narration of the part tak- 
en by General Smith's troops in this campaign, it is 
not for me to give a history of this grand achieve- 
ment. It is well told in Admiral Porter's official re- 
port. While referring to it. I would state that the 
face of the immediate neighborhood underwent a 
rapid transformation as the work progressed. As if 
by mayic, brick sugar-mills and all available stone 
and brick buildings and standing trees disappeared, 
and regiments of soldiers and mules drew material of 
every description to the river bank, where other regi- 
ments of soldiers soon disposed of it, under the mas- 
terly superintendency of Lieutenant Colonel Bailey. 

During our encampment at Alexandria the divi- 
sion of the Seventeenth corps crossed the river and 
encamped for a few days on the grounds of the Uni- 
versity of Louisiana, of which institution General 
Sherman was president at the breaking out of the 
rebellion. General Franklin left us at Alexandria 
and General Banks again- took command of the army. 
The enemy were now all about us and our troops 
were camping and sleeping in line of battle; the riv- 
er was blockaded below and the enemy were captur- 
ing and destroying steamers. Admiral Porter also 
lost three of his gunboats — one, the "Eastport," he 
was obliged to blow up, as he could not get it down 
to Alexandria. On the 4th of May, General Smith's 
command advanced out to ex-Governor Moore's plan- 
tation, where they had a skirmish with the enemy, 
and driving him two or three miles we again made 
our camp on the ex-Governor's plantation, where we 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 249 

had daily skirmishing during our stay. General 
Smith and staff were out there every day, sometimes 
remaining over night and sometimes riding in to 
Alexandria in the evening, sleeping on our head- 
quarter steamer, and then rode out again early in the 
morning. 

AN ENEMY'S VIEW OF THE SITUATION. 

What a sad picture was now to be seen, where 
all was beauty and luxury when we first saw it in 
March. Governor Moore was with his friends furth- 
er South, and while fighting over his plantation one 
day, his wife was advised to leave, and as she left 
her house the tears came to her eyes as she said: 
-•Good-bye, once happy home." Who made it an un- 
happy home? We all concluded that it was her hus- 
band, as the natural result of treason. Living far in 
the interior of "Dixie," as he did, he undoubtedly 
thought war's desolation would never reach his 
•'happy home." Three years had passed away, and 
he was an exile— his family leaving their home; the 
flag he insulted and defied waving over the ruins of 
his "once happy home." Was it not a just retribu- 
tion? 

We were now entirely cut off from the outside 
world, the blockade of the river being most effectual. 
A large mail for us was captured and destroyed on 
one of the transports. General Banks would not let 
us go out in force and give the enemy battle, having 
issued positive orders not to bring on a general en- 
gagement, which order caused a good deal of anima- 
ted ( but private )discussion. It is appropriate at this 
point to quote again from the letter of the Southern 



250 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

soldier already quoted from: "The enemy showed 
less enterprise than I have ever known them to evince. 
Banks is clearly no commander. Once or twice while 
he was at Alexandria, the posture of our forces was 
such that by a sure and comparatively safe move- 
ment of ten thousand men he might have insured, be- 
yond peradventure, the capture of Polignac's divi- 
sion. He must have been in the main aware of the 
position and strength of our forces. Along with the 
hope of accomplishing his main purpose he seems to 
have given up all desire to acquit himself with any 
credit."' 

THE CASE AGAINST BANKS. 

We, too, thought General Banks had "given up 
all desire to acquit himself with any credit," and 
showed an unaccountable lack of enterprise. Of 
course, we knew nothing as to the certain result 
above predicted, of the "sure and comparatively safe 
movement of ten thousand men." But having about 
that number General Smith, having his hands tied 
by the order not to bring on a general engagement, 
and being obliged in conformity with it to sit down 
quietly on Governor Moore's plantation, and simply 
sweep away the enemy when too closely reconnoiter- 
ing our position, might be excused for giving vent to 
his feelings in unmistakable language, at such a new 
phase of military life. 

I have stated that when I reached Alexandria I 
w T ould show that it was General Banks, not General 
Smith, who meditated the abandonment of the fleet. 
Dr. Staples (who, owing to the wound of Dr. Derby, 
already spoken of, was now acting medical director 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 251 

on General Smith's staff) writes me as follows: 

'"One day, when the wing dams were about half 
completed. General Smith asked me to accompany 
him to General Emory's quarters. They were soon 
engaged in earnest conversation, and I heard Emory 
say there was a bad outlook; that General Banks had 
just informed him that Colonel Bailey thought it 
would take a week longer to get the fleet over the 
falls, and Banks was very uneasy and seriously con- 
templated abandoning the fleet to its fate and march- 
ing away. General Smith replied, with some Anglo- 
Saxon, more forcible than polite, that he wouldn't 
leave Admiral Porter until that locality, from which 
we all hope to escape, had frozen over. We went 
from General Emory's to Admiral Porter's boat, and 
General Smith told the Admiral what he had just 
heard, and assured him that orders, or no orders, his 
command should not leave the fleet until they saw it 
safe through to the Mississippi river. Admiral Por- 
ter replied that he was not surprised to hear such 
news, as he had been anticipating as much. He ex- 
pressed much gratitude for General Smith's proffers 
of aid, and declared that if the expedition had been 
under his commaud it would not have failed." 

A SUCCESS AS A SPECULATION. 

I have now come to a subject which requires 
delicate handling, but even a historical sketch of the 
Red river campaign cannot well be written without a 
reference to it. As the expedition had been a decid- 
ed failure in a military point of view, so it was a 

great success as a cotton speculation. It was difficult 

for us to believe that which our eyes saw, but it was 



252 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

the expressed and indignant belief of many in the 
army that something was wrong in the manipulation 
of cotton now being enacted before our eyes. We all 
saw an immense amount of bagging and rope up- 
on the steamer "Black Hawk" (General Banks' 
headquarter boat) when it arrived at Alexandria, 
and it was then said it was for cotton. And during 
our occupancy of Alexandria on our retreat, I myself 
saw steamers loaded with cotton and sent down the 
river under the protection of the hospital flag, and 
Lieutenant Pannes (ordnance officer on General 
Smith's staff) sends me the following extract from 
his diary: 

April 29, 1864. — Cotton is being loaded on the 
boats by General Banks' order. Even the hospital 
boat Superior is used for that purpose; went out with 
Capl. Burns to convince myself of that fact. 

May 1. — The three cotton boats returned, having 
been fired into. 

In a letter written by Colonel Shaw, who was ac 
this time with his brigade at Governor Moore's plan- 
tation, he says: — 

' The ostensible purpose of occupying this posi- 
tion w as the securing of forage, but as scarcely any 
was procured and several thousand bushels of corn 
were carelessly burned, it was thought a somewhat 
suspicious circumstance that a large ginning estab- 
lishment, which was covered by our lines, was turn- 
ing out some fifteen or twenty bales of cotton per day. 
But whether well founded or not, the impression 
was well nigh universal that army movements were 
controlled to a considerable extent by the cotton in- 
terest. Such a state of affairs was most demoraliz- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 253 

lug and disheartening-." 

From our first entrance into the Red river coun- 
try we had been daily hearing reports which seemed 
too preposterous for belief; reports that an under- 
standing existed between somebody and somebody 
else that there was to be no fighting on this cam- 
paign, but that the Southern army was to fall back 
gradually as our army advanced and gathered up the 
cotton, for which, in some way not explained, the 
Southerners were to be paid. Also that Generals A. 
J. Smith and Dick Taylor, not having been inform- 
ed of this secret, and both being fighting men, had en- 
tered the campaign to fight when it became neces- 
sary, and General Smith's capture of Port DeRussey 
and Dick Taylor's forcing the fight at Sabine Cross- 
roads had upset the calculations of the different 
somebodys. This report of a secret understanding 
was reiterated day after day until it was believed by 
many to be true, but many more of us were incredu- 
lous until we witnessed this strange shipment of cot- 
ton under the hospital flag, which was either a gross 
deception under the sacredness of a hospital flag or 
the carrying out of a bargain. 

AN INCORRUPTIBLE GENERAL. 

Tn all this, how General Smith's character stood 
outclnar and incorruptible; he was the thorough sol- 
dier and would have nothing to do with anything ex- 
cept a soldier's duty, not even permitting cotton to 
be placed on his transports when they descended the 
river. It was in this connection that the feelings of 
antagonism between Generals Banks and Smith had 
about reached its culminating point, and an irrecon- 



2.54 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

cilable explosion would have taken place between 
them if General Banks had insisted upon the enforce- 
ment of his order, which order was, according to my 
recollection, that General Smith should turn over to 
him (Banks) his fleet of transports for the purpose of 
transporting cotton down the river. This order Gen- 
eral Smith would not obey. Lieutenant Pannes 
agrees with me. He writes: — 

4- My recollection of the order of General Banks 
to General Smith, at Alexandria, on our retreat, to 
turn over his transports to Banks for the purpose of 
loading up with cotton, is that, the matter was talk- 
ed over a irood deal; that Smith was very indignant 
and emphatic in his expressions about it. General 
T. Kilby Smith reports: General Smith gave orders 
that no cotton should be placed upon his boats for 
any purpose whatever; and, if my memory serves 
me right he refused most positively to obey an order 
in that behalf, with the remark that while he con 
trolled transports they should not be used for the 
transportation of cotton." 

Colonel Shaw has a different version. He writes 
me: — 

'"My recollection of the order is that Banks sent 
an order to Smith to receive on board of his boats 
the supplies belonging to Banks' army (or that part 
of it not including Smith's command); that General 
Smith returned the order with the endorsement that 
he was ready to reeeive any government supplies on 
his boats as soon as the boats under Banks' orders 
discharged their loads of cotton, held on privale ac- 
count, and then, if he (Banks) could not take all his 
supplies, he would do what he could to assist him." 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 255 

The report of this "disobedience of orders" 
reached our troops at Governor Moore's plantation, 
with this addition, that General Banks had put Gen- 
eral Smith under arrest, and next morning, as we 
rode out there and came to the troops, exchanging 
shots with the enemy, we noticed the men looked at 
us with much scrutiny and spoke to each other in 
angry and excited tones. It was so marked that we 
were puzzled. Evidently something had happened 
of which we were ignorant. It seemed to portend a 
mutiny — more attention was paid to us than to the 
enemy. We soon learned the cause; it was this ru- 
mor of General Smith's arrest, and that morning 
when he made his appearance he (as often happened 
before, but with no such rumor to excite the men 
and cause them to notice its absence) did not wear 
his sabre, which, to the soldiers, was proof positive 
that the report was true. They were soon informed 
that there was no truth in it, and the cheers that 
then went up were ample proof to the General of the 
love his men had for him. 

ROOM FOR COTTON, BUT NOT FOR TROOPS. 

General T. Kilby Smith reports that when he 
was ordered to proceed to Springfield Landing with 
the transports lie applied to one of the quartermas- 
ters of the Department of the Gulf for permission to 
place some of his troops on one of his boats, but was 
refused because the room was needed for cotton. To 
show General A. J. Smith's utter detestation of this 
cotton mania, I will relate an incident: I reported 
to him one day that there was a cotton mill inside 
our lines tilled with cotton belonging to a man who 
was a cavalry olti^r in the Sjuthern army, and who, 



256 THIRTY SECOND LibXJlMENT 

during General Banks' occupancy of the country a 
year or two before, had claimed to he a Union man 
and, as such, had received protection. He told me 
to go to Captain Hough (his adjutant general) and 
tell him to issue me an order to burn it. I did so, 
and the Captain handed me a box of matches with- 
out saying a word, but with a significant twinkle in 
his eye. I returned to the General, and showing 
hin? the matches, told him that was my order. He 
looked at me and said: "Go and execute your or- 
der," which I did. I do not mean to say that no cot- 
ton was taken except by the army, for the navy took 
possession of a large quantity. 

The dam being finished, on the morning of May 
13 a sight was witnessed in Alexandria which can 
never be forgotton by those who stood on the banks 
of Red river. A sight, novel and exciting — the pas- 
sage of the gunboats over the falls. As they passed 
one by one through the narrow gap between the two 
wings of the dam, where the water was rushing and 
seething, and plunged down over the falls, each one 
as it reached a place of safety below, being cheered 
by thousands of soldiers who lined the hanks, was a 
grand sight, and was not only appreciated by us for 
its novelty, etc., but also because it set us free, and 
we could now shake off the feeling of depression, hu- 
miliation and wasting of time under which we were 
living. During this day (lHth) the advance of Gen- 
eral Banks' army left Alexandria by the river road. 
As they were leaving a fire broke out in the city 
which destroyed a large part of it, although every 
effort was made to extinguish it by the officers, sol- 
diers and citizens. General Smith and staff remain- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 257 

ed in Alexandria until late in the afternoon, then 
rode out to Governor Moore's, where his troops were 
still spread out like a fan. keeping the enemy at bay. 
We remained there in camp that night and early next 
morning took up our line of march so as to fall in 
the rear of General Banks' column. As we marched 
down the bank of ihe river — side by side with the 
boats — we were fired at occasionally from the oppo- 
site bank, but not much harm ensued. 

BOARDING THE FLEET. 

On the loth the whole column came to a halt — 
the enemy had appeared in front in force, and the 
propects of a fight was good — and orders came back 
from General Banks to General Smith to bring his 
command to the front. As the Thirteenth and Nine- 
teenth corps drew off on the left of the road we pass- 
ed to the front, and while doing so many jokes were 
passed between the soldiers of the different corps at 
this "change of base." When we reached the front 
we found the cavalry skirmishing with and driving 
the enemy. As it was now about dark, we went into 
camp half way between Fort DeRussey and Marks- 
ville. Captain Hough and I rode down to the ruins 
of the fort and there found a gunboat from the Miss- 
issippi river (our own fleet not having arrived.) We 
were gladly welcomed on board and spent a very 
pleasant hour with the officers, giving them the news 
from the interior and receiving news from the out- 
side world. 

Next morning, as we entered upon the beautiful 
open prairie ( Avoyelle.) the cavalry drove the ene- 
my's pickets through Marksville, and we found the 



258 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

enemy posted in the edge of the woods bordering 
this prairie, from which they opened upon us with 
twelve or fifteen pieces of artillery. Our whole force 
(from 20,000 to 25,000 men. having been increased 
by the garrison of Alexandria and reinforcements) 
were brought out in battle line on the prairie — Gen- 
eral Emory on the left and General Smith on the 
light. Our artillery replied, and for two or three 
hours there was as lively an artillery duel as one 
would wish to see. We were ahout one mile apart 
and. although shot and shell flew unpleasantly near, 
yet very few persons were killed or wounded. As 
our forces slowly advanced and changed position 
from time to time-all in plain view- — it was the 
grandest battle scene, without its horrors, I ever saw. 
As we neared the woods and sent out skirmishers, 
among them were some Indians from a Minnesota or 
Wisconsin regiment, who were unerring shots with 
the rifle. Whether it was the result of their skill or 
the artillery practice. I don't know; but the enemy 
fled and swung around to our rear and our army re- 
sumed its march, General Smith falling in his old 
place — the rear. We had no further annoyance from 
our foe that day. Next day (17th ) however, they 
made their appearance, and once they pressed us so 
hard that General Smith halted his men, formed a 
battle line and received them with his artillery, but 
after a few shots they passed out of sight. That af- 
ternoon we arrived and encamped at the fort on Yel- 
low bayou, within three miles of Simmsport. on the 
Atchafalaya river, and as we were going into camp 
we heard of the removal of General Banks from his 
command, having been superseded by General Can- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 259 

by since so treacherously murdered by the Modoc 
Indians. 

THE ''PRINCE GENERAL'S" MISTAKE. 

The advance, under General Banks, having ar- 
rived at Simmsport. and there being no bridge over 
the Atchafalaya, Lieutenant Colonel Bailey (who 
built the dam at Alexandria) at once proceeded to 
improvise a bridge from the transports, which had 
also arrived there. The river at that point is about 
•one-third of a mile in width. Transports sufficient 
in number to span the river were placed side by side 
and fastened together by ropes, etc., -and across their 
decks the army marched. This "bridge" was finish- 
ed on the 19th and the advance passed over that af- 
ternoon. In the meantime (on the 18th) General 
Smith's command was in battle line at Yellow bayou, 
and during that afternoon the enemy, under Prince 
Polignac. made the most impetuous, spirited attack 
upon us that had been made during the whole cam- 
paign. It seemed to be, and was their last dying 
effort; but for dash and spirit it equalled any attack 
of General Forrest, who w r as well known for his im- 
petuosity. 

The "Prince General" undoubtedly thought we 
were in a trap, and a bold fight on his part would 
furnish them with prisoners and material of war 
enough to well repay the Confederate army for their 
long rear chase, but most wofully were they disap 
pointed. General Smith was at Simmsport, and not 
in the tight. General Mower was in command of 
our troops and the battle of Yellow Bayou was his 
fight, and well did he sustain his reputation as a 
fighting general. I cannot speak of this battle from 



260 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

personal experience, as I was with General Smith at 
Simmsport, witnessing the building of the "bridge 
of boats." Word did not reach us that there was 
fighting until nearly dark, the sound of artillery etc., 
having been deadened by the noise of bridge building, 
although once or twice we thought we heard artillery 
tiring. We then rode out to the bayou, but the fight 
was over, and the battlefield was lighted up by 
about one-half acre of tall dead pine trees on fire from 
the bursting of one of our caissons, which had been 
exploded by one of the enemy's shells. We had lost 
about two hundred and fifty men killed and wounded 
and had taken two hundred and twenty prisoners. 
Among our wounded was Colonel Lynch, Fifty-eighth 
Illinois, commanding a brigade, whom we passed on 
our way to the bayou, coming in in an ambulance 
with one leg crushed by a ball. The number of our 
killed and wounded (two hundred and fifty) in the 
short space of an hour or two, is good evidence of 
the fierceness of the attack and the desperate re- 
ception they met.ending in the repulse of the enemy, 
who were driven from the field with a loss of about 
four hundred and fifty men killed and wounded, in 
addition to the prisoners captured. 

ACROSS THE ARKANSAS LINE. 

General Smith's troops remained at Yellow bayou 
during the 19th, while the Army of the Gulf crossed 
the Atchafalaya, and on the UOth the Army of the 
Tennessee crossed over, after which the bridge dis- 
solved into boats again, and started for the Missis- 
sippi river to meet us. As we reached the east bank 
of the Atchafalaya I saw for the first time General 
Canby, our new commander, and also heard the good 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 261 

news that General Smith had been commissioned a 
major general. 

On the 2 1st we marched over the strip of land 
between the Atchafalaya and Mississippi rivers, 
where we met our boats, and on the 22d were on our 
way to Vicksburg, where we arrived on the 24th — 
the Thirteenth and Nineteenth corps in the mean- 
time going to New Orleans. As we were too late to 
carry out the plans of General Sherman, as contem- 
plated when we were loaned for thirty days, we re- 
mained at Vicksburg resting after our rough and ar- 
duous campaigning of ten weeks of incessant work, 
until June 4. when General Marmaduke. having 
planted batteries at Columbia, one hundred and fifty 
miles above Vicksburg, and was interrupting the 
navigation of the Mississippi, General Smith was or- 
dered by General Slocum (who was in command at 
Vicksburg) to dislodge him on our way to Memphis, 
where we were now going. 

As this was one of those outside battles, so in- 
significant as compared with the many then being 
fought throughout our country, that I have scarcely 
seen a reference to it in print, and yet so important 
to those enaa^ed in it, I refer to it simply as an ad- 
denda to the Red River Expedition. We parted with 
General T. Kilby Smith and his command of twenty- 
tive hundred men at Vicksburg, as they remained 
there. On June 4, we left Vicksburg and arrived at 
or near Columbia on the evening of the 5th, disem- 
barked and bivouacked for the night. Marmaduke, 
in the meantime, withdrawing his batteries and 

troops from the bank of the Mississippi and falling 



*62 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

back into the interior. This was in the southeastern 
counly of Arkansas. 

A HOT FIGHT WITH MARMADUKE. 

On the morning of the 6th we started in pursuit 
— it was then raining hard — and soon found our ene- 
my in a good position for checking our advance, on 
the bank of a beautiful little lake (Lake Chicot) along 
which the road wound. Our troops were at once 
spread out in line of battle and artillery and musket- 
ry firing commenced, and for two hours the work of 
death went on. We could see the Confederate am- 
bulances passing to and fro over their field, carrying 
off the wounded. Some of their shots striking the 
lake, performed a series of ricochets, bounding away 
over the surface until lost to view, throwing up a 
line of water-spouts in their progress. There was 
no particular manceuvering in,this battle — it was a 
fair stand up fight, opened by artillery on both sides, 
and so continuing with the musketry firing of our in- 
fantry, who gradually worked up to the enemy and 
drove them from their position, when they fled, not 
again to stand. We had about thirty killed and sev- 
enty wounded, and Marmaduke probably about the 
same number. 

Once during the progress of the fight General 
Smith and staff got into an exceedingly dangerous 
position, in the direct focus of a battery of three 
guns. Simultaneously their balls came; a 12 pound 
shot struck at our horses' heels, another passed with 
a fearful ring under their necks, striking the ground 
at their feet, splashing both horses and riders with 
mud, and at the same second of time a shell burst di- 
rectly above our heads. When the next discharge 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 265 

from this battery came, we were about one hundred 
yards out of range watching the contestants. 

After driving the enemy from our path, burying 
our dead and gathering up our wounded, we marched 
t o Lake City, quite a pretty village, on the bank of 
Lake Chicot, where we encamped for the night. 
Next day we marched to our boats again and arrived 
at Memphis on the evening of the 9th, from which 
point we entered upon the Tupelo campaign. 



Note: — On page 204, in the first paragragh, the 
turning point in the battle of Pleasant Hill is not em- 
phasized as it might properly have been. Inadver- 
tently in the printing, also, there are two typograph- 
ical errors, "Northwest" should read "Northeast;" 
and in the 5th line of the note the w T ord "along" 
should read ''alone." 

The 58thIllinois was under the command of Lt. 
Colonel Nowlan, — and Colonel Lynch commanded 
the brigade. For that reason it must be understood 
that reference to "Lynch" really means his regiment, 
the 58th Illinois. The reader is respectfully referred 
to the several reports of Colonel Lynch and Lieut. 
Colonel Nowlan. in explanation of the important 
part taken by that regiment, as briefly stated on page 
204. These, and many other interesting documents 
are to be found in Volume 34 of the Official Records 
of the Union and Confederate Armies. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



Sergeant Boyd's Narrative; Marching Down 
Red River, to Alexandria. 

The diary of Sergeant Boyd is now resumed. 
At the risk of some repetition his story, which was 
biokenoff on page 143, is again brought into play. 
The narrative of Captain Burns relates generally to 
the movements of General Smith's command, while 
that of Sergeant Boyd applies more particularly to 
the Regiment. They supplement each other. Each 
tells of what he saw from his separate point of ob- 
servation. Boyd tells of the days at Grand Ecore^ 
and afterwards, as follows: 

"Lines of defense were established on the bluffs 
of Grand Ecore and preparations made for battle. 
The skirmishing indicated that the enemy either in- 
tended to attack us in force, or was making a feint 
while hurling his main force against the fleet, and 
that part of our command under T. Kilby Smith. 

The boom ! boom ! of distant cannonading up 
the river indicated lively work in that direction. 

The fight at "Blair's Landing" was in progress, 
where the rebel general. Green, the idol of the Tex- 
an troops, had his head blown off in the attack on 
the gunboats. 

That night a pontoon bridge" was -put down on 
the river, and early on the morning of the 13th we 
were again in motion. Two brigades and two bat- 
teries of A. J. Smith's command crossed the river 
and marched up on the north side, above Campte, 
(20 miles), to reinforce Kilby Smith in c efence of 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 265 

the fleet. 

The river here is very narrow and tortuous, and 

the bluffs along the banks, the timber and matted 
growth of underbrush, together with the little lakes 
or lagoons back from the river made grand hiding 
places for the enemy's masked batteries and sharp- 
shooters, and a difficult place for anything like a 
large body of troops to operate. 

A number of our gunboats and transports were 
aground, sticking fast, while the enemy's masked 
batteries and sharpshooters were pouring into them 
an incessant fire. At our approach their batteries 
were withdrawn. During the afternoon there was 
some lively skirmishing, and at night we bivouack- 
ed near Campte; and next day skirmished with the 
rebel sharpshooters until we saw the stripes and 
stars floating in the breeze from the mast head of the 
headquarters boat. Black Hawk, as she came floating 
down stream; the fleet having escaped from the des- 
perate attempt of the recklessly daring Green. 

The steamer Black Hawk and some of the other 
transports were thoroughly riddled. The soldiers 
were mainly on the hurricane decks, protected by 
cotton bales, bales of hay and sacks of oats covered 
with soldier blankets, upon which they had turned 
the hose of the steamboats, to keep the whole 
thoroughly wet. thus making an effective breastwork; 
but their decks looked like butcher pens. 

On the night of the 14th returned, re-crossed the 
river and camped again on the ridge of Grand Ecore. 



On the 16th. the time for which Smith's com 



266 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

mand had been loaned by Sherman to Banks expired. 
General Sherman sent a bearer of dispatches to re- 
call Smith's divisions, but Commodore Porter raised 
his voice against its departure on the ground that 
Smith's men had full confidence in their officers, and 
his recall would result in the remainder of the army 
retreating with great loss; and officers of the navy 
testified before Ben Wade's committee on the con- 
duct of the war. that the officers of Smith's command 
were the only ones on the expedition who had the 
entire confidence of their men. General Banks in 
his answering dispatch said. "The withdrawal of 
Gen. A. J. Smith's command will place my force and 
the navy at the mercy of the enemy." General 
Banks countermanded the order of return. 

On the morning of the 19th w r e were called out 
into line of battle at 4 o'clock. It was very evident 
that great efforts were bein<4 made to bring on a bat 
tie, or not to bring on a battle, as apparent advan- 
tages might indicate. 

On the 20th we had orders to be ready to move 
against the enemy at noon; moved out on the Natchi- 
toches road near old "Camp Salubrity*' where Gen- 
eral Grant was camped in May, 1*44, previous to 
the Mexican war. Here came the repori that the en 
emy was in strong force; that our cavalry was being 
driven in. The order came, "Have the men stand to 
their arms and be ready." But no enemy came and we 
marched to Natchitoches and again formed line of 
battle. General Smith was desirous to bring on a 
general and decisive engagement. 

It was evident even to the soldier of the line 
that there were checking and counter-checking move- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 267 

men is. During the night of the 20th and until mid- 
night of the 21st was spent in line of battle, forming 
and reforming and changing positions. At one time 
we formed a hollow square to guard against cavalry, 
and again prepared to receive charge of infantry. 
About 1 o'clock at night we fell into line, marched 
through the narrow, filthy streets of the city, and 
crossed Cane river, wading and stepping on the large 
stones to the island between Cane river and Red riv- 
er. In fact, Cane river is only an old channel of Red 
river. Some thirty years before our visit among the 
beauties of Louisiana Red river became rampant, im- 
pregnated with the idea of secession. She seceded 
from some of her old land marks, and starting off at 
Grand Ecore. left Natchitoches four miles off on 
land, and continued to make a new route, until she 
left an island forty five miles in length between the 
old and new channels. Down this island was the 
main, and I think the only good road, leading to 
Alexandria, and hence it was now to be the scene of 
contest. Where the road crosses the river out of the 
island is known as "Cane River Hill." or "Monot's 
Bluffs." The maneuvering of the enemy doubtless 
was to hold us at Natchitoches while he threw a 
force in advance to take possession of and fortify 
Monot's Bluffs, a strong force under the rebel Gener- 
al Bee having been sent forward for that purpose; 
but Generals Emory and Birge, with portions of the 
18th and 19th Corps, had also been sent in advance, 
while A. J. Smith was left to take care of the rear. 
The French Prince, Polignac, the friend and emis- 
sary of Napoleon III, of France, was left to pounce 
upon Smith. 



£68 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

At 4 o'clock on the morning of the 21st, we were 
on the island on the hill overlooking Natchitoches. 
By 6 o'clock we were on the move. Bat here was 
Polignac's cavalry and skirmishers, and hence we 
had to fall back, form into line, and a day spent in 
skirmishing, without any general engagement, and 
then came an all night's inarch. The 22d was a day 
of skirmishing and night marching. After repuls- 
ing the enemy in several sharp skirmishes, we pull- 
ed out for a night's march making 32 miles without 
a halt by 3 o'clock a. m. The night of the 23d we 
camped in line ef battle near a little village called 
Cloutiei-ville. We laid down upon our arms, with 
orders to be ready to spring to our guns at any mo- 
ment. The men were soon sound asleep, with their 
guns by their sides, or else with their feet to their 
gun stacks: in fact, the men were completely worn 
out for want of rest and sleep. 

About 2 a. m. Polignac sent his compliments to 
to our camp in the shape of a 32-pound shell, that fell 
and bursted just in front of the 32d Iowa, the pieces, 
flying over us, and hurting no one. The men were 
quickly on their feet with guns in hand, and moving" 
by the right flank to check a flank movement of the 
enemy. The firing of six cannons in rapid succes- 
sion was said to be a signal from Polignac to Bee 
that he had attacked Smith, but Birge had already 
forded Cane river three miles above MonotV Bluffs 
and was taking Bee in the rear. Matters were now 
decidedly warm in both our front and rear. Polig- 
nac, after several hours of sharp fighting and sever- 
al dashing attempts to turn our flanks, got worsted 
and fell back, and we were ordered to stack arms, 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 269 

make coffee, and get some breakfast, but be ready to 
take arms at any moment. The coffee was not swal- 
lowed before the attack was renewed, and shot and 
shell were flying neat 1 enough to make it interesting, 
Amidst the zip of minnie balls and boom of artillery 
was heard the command of our officers: ''Thirty- 
second Iowa ! Into line ! Quick ! Quick ! By the 
right flank ! Forward ! Quick ! Double Quick !" 
as the regiment moved on double quick by the right 
flank to check an attempt of the enemy to turn our 
right flank. The enemy then made a charge to 
break our center, and the 32nd was moved on double 
quick to support the center, and after several more 
hours of sharp fighting and attempts to turn our 
flanks or break our center, the "Prince of France" 
getting worsted, fell back. General Bee being dis- 
lodged from Monot's Bluff, we resumed our retreat, 
and as we crossed Cane river hill bridge we could 
see strong evidence that the enemy had suffered se- 
verely, and our own side was not without loss. It 
was here that Gen. Fessenden, of Maine, was severe- 
ly wounded. 

Marching again until late in the night brought 
us to Bayou Cotile, where the regiment I'ested until 
noon, next day. 

Just then a rebel line of battle presented itself 
in full view in the timber on a slight eminence above 
us. and opened fire with heavy artillery, when our 
gunboats at the landing promptly replied, the first 
shell exploding in their line. The march that day 
was along near the river bank under the protection 
of the gunboats, the shot and shell from their artil- 
lery and our gunboats at times flying both ways over 



270 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

us. At limes we halted and formed into line to re- 
sist an attack, and then marching again until in the 
night. 

On the 26th, the command was again called out 
before daylight by cannonading and picket skirmish- 
ing. Most of the day was a continual skirmish, 
marching and countermarching, harassed by caval- 
ry. At one time we turned off into the timber to let 
the enemy's cavalry pass that we might close in be- 
hind them, but failed. That night we reached Alex- 
andria, a worn down set of men." 



CHATTER XXVII 



At Alexandria; Skirmishing; Damming Red 

River, At The Palls; Retreat To Simms- 

port; Battle op Yellow Bayou; Good 

Bye To Red River. [As Told By 

Sergeant Boyd.] 

"About noon on the 28th came the report that the 
pickets of the 18th Army Corps were driven in; and 
that the enemy was advancing on Alexandria. About 
3 o'clock p. m. our Brigade was ordered out in haste, 
and marched out about four miles to a plantation 
from which the 13th Army Corps had fallen back. 
We found that forage and sutler goods had been act- 
ually fired, and bread, blankets, and clothing thrown 
into wells on the plantation. We rescued a large 
amount of clothing and provisions. All signs would 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 271 

indicate that the 13th Corps had actually stampeded. 
Our Brigade lay all night in line of battle with 
guns by our sides, and our friends at the north may 
not believe that in the morning the ground was cov- 
ered with frost. About sunrise we heard a toot ! 
toot ! and looking up saw a train loaded with cot- 
ton, coming not far from us, which shot into Alex- 
andria. Then what was the scare? The next morn- 
ing returned to camp at Alexandria. 

On the 80th a part of our command was sent to 
bivouac at the State Military Academy, of which 
General Sherman was Principal when the war broke 
out. 

On the 2nd of May, moved out on the Bayou 
Rapides road. The advance had some lively skirm- 
ishing — lay all night in battle line with guns at hand. 

On the 3d moved down some miles to Governor 
Moore's plantation, threw out a skirmish line and 
drove the enemy's pickets in, remained in line of 
battle all day, and at night fell back to a stronger 
position, lying m line all night with guns at hand, 
to be ready at any moment. A little after daylight, 
on the 4th the enemy opened fire; and shot and shell 
flew lively. Our command was quickly moved for- 
ward and the tire returned; the enemy driven from 
his position, leaving a number of his dead on the 
field. The 5th w T as spent in sharp skirmishing. most- 
ly by the cavalry. 

The loth, was another day of maneuvering and 
skirmishing. At one time in moving in line of bat- 
tle over an open field, the enemy sent their shot and 
shell with great rapidity, but they were firing at 
long range and kept falling back as our line advanc- 



272 THIRTY SECOND KEGIMENT 

ed. A portion of the time we moved in echelon and 
ready to move into any position necessary to receive 
or make a charge. Our officers seemed very desir- 
ous to bring on a general engagement somewhere in 
the vicinity of Alexandria. 

On the 7th moved a short distance to Governor 
Wells' plantation; and in the evening fell back to 
Governor Moore's plantation. Still some skirmish- 
ing. On the 8th all was quiet, in front but our forag- 
ers were driven in. 

The destruction of Gov. Moore's fine peach or- 
chard was a military necessity. The old traitor 
should not have had it between the two contending 
armies. In fact his whole premises presented a 
scene of desolation, in striking contrast with what, 
they were less thau a month before. 

On the 11th, the whole line was called out in bat- 
tle array, at daylight, owing to musketry and artil- 
lery firing on our left, and demonstrations as though 
the enemy intended to attack in force. 

On the morning of the lHth. reveille sounded 
about 2:20. The command was in line at 5, possibly 
on account of skirmishing on the picket lines. "In 
fact, from the 1st day of May, until the 14th of 
May," says T. Kilby Smith, "we were continually 
engaged in skirmishing with the enemy, making di- 
vers reconnoisances to the front to ascertain the ene- 
my's strength, and endeavoring to force him into a 
fight." 

From the 26th of April until May 12th was a 
time of intense interest in both the military and nav- 
al portions of the expedition, from the fact that the 
gunboats were above the Falls of Alexandria and 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 273 

could not get over. 

The scheme of Colonel Bailey, of the 4th Wis- 
consin, to build side cribs and wing dams to raise 
the water of the river and float the gunboats over 
the rocky rapids, commenced on the 1st day of May. 
Nearly every part of the army furnished details to 
aid in building the cribs and dams. They were com- 
pleted on the 8th day of May, and at 4 o'clock in the 
afternoon four gunboats glided over the rapids, but 
before another boat could be shoved in the cribbing 
gave way and the dams were gone. As the officers 
and men who had worked so hard and had taxed 
their every energy and strength to build the dam 
stood and looked at their work swept away, as with 
one dash, despair for a few minutes appeared depict- 
ed on their faces. But in a very short time renew- 
ed determination and energy took hold of those men, 
another dam was constructed and completed in four 
days, and by the morning of the 13th the remainder 
of the fleet was over. An order was then given for 
an immediate forward movement of the entire army. 
In the meantime the enemy certainly had not been 
idle, but was busy concentrating their forces to hem 
us in. A portion of the troops — three divisions — who 
fought us at Sabine Crossroads and Pleasant Hill- 
Walker's Texans. Parson's Missourians and Church- 
ill's A rkansans — had been sent north into Arkansas 
to aid Price against Steele. They were then to re- 
turn and act in conjunction with the forces on the 
south side of the river, and crush the invading army 
of Red river. The place of conjunction was to be 
'•Snaggy, or Stony Point," a place already of tragic 
interest on account of the destruction of the steamer 



274 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

City Belle, the slaughter of the troops on board, and 
the capture of the mail; also, the destruction of the 
ironclad gunboat "John Warner." But the fighting- 
with Steele, neat- Camden, at "Mark's Mill" and 
"Jenkins Ferry" were to them, after all, dearly 
bought victories — as victories they pretended to call 
them. 

On the 14th the entire army was in motion. The 
march was mainly along the river, the gunboats and 
transports dropping down stream as the army march- 
ed, each to protect the other. About 9 o'clock the 
enemy was found in position on Bayou La Moore, 
and after some sharp skirmishing and artillery firing- 
and flanking by the cavalry, they gave way, and we 
moved on. About the same time some masked bat- 
teries and musketry opened fire on the fleet, one of 
the gunboats receiving some damage and a number 
of the transports getting well riddled. Next morn- 
ing the fleet reached "Stony Point." A short dis- 
tance below the river was spanned by a framework 
of heavy timbers, and heavy piles driven into the 
mud at the edges of the water and all braced in every 
direction. They were also clamped together with 
vast iron plates and chains. Then large trees were 
cut down and hurled into the stream; a large amount 
of rock was also tumbled in to make an obstruction 
to the passage of the fleet, while at one of the sharp 
bends of the river the ground was prepared and tim- 
ber and brush cut to cover the masked batteries, but 
the batteries were not there. A captured dispatch 
informed us that the troops coming down from Cam- 
den could not possibly reach "Stony Point" before 
the 16th, on account of confusion in their command 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. ZlO 

occasioned by the death of Generals Randall and 
Scurry. One of the little mud turtle gunboats soon 
cleared away the obstructions, framework and all, 
and the fleet did not wait for the masked batteries. 

On the loth the entire army came to a halt near 
Mansura. The enemy appeared in force, and there 
appeared to be a good show for warm work. The 
13th and 19th Corps made a flank movement to the 
right, while the forces of Smith and Mower moved 
to the front under a brisk fire from a strong, well 
deployed skirmish line, but our command was quick- 
ly thrown into line, and returned the fire and after 
several hours skirmishing with some heavy artillery 
firing, the enemy fell back, and we moved on, march- 
ing again until night. 

The morning of the 16th the army entered the 
beautiful prairie of the Parish of Avoyelles. Here 
are some of the real beauties of the Louisianas. A 
really handsome country. The enemy is again in 
our front; their skirmish line well thrown out; but 
driving them, they retreated through Marksville, and 
formed a line of battle in the timber, from which 
they opened a lively fire of shot and shell at long 
range. Our whole army, possibly some 30.000 men, 
were brought into line of battle on that beautiful 
open prairie. The artillery moved quickly into po- 
sition, and for a time that prairie was the scene of a 
^rand artillery duel at long range, but sometimes the 
shells exploded sufficiently near to make it interest- 
ing. The two armies were in full view of each other, 
and as the battle lines of infantry and rows of artil- 
lery stood with their guns and bayonets glistening 
in the sun, the eye could glance to the right and also 



276 T UNITY SECOND KKC1MENT 

to the left and see the cavalry spread out on either 
flank, ready for a skirmish, a charge or a flank move- 
ment, and looking across the prairie to the skirts of 
timber beyond conld see the counterpart in the ene- 
my's lines, and as a brisk breeze wafting over the 
prairie lifted the smoke of the artillery upward, leav- 
ing only the flash of their tire, it was a battle scene 
that was grand; and truly grand because very few 
were hurt. It was the movements for a great bat- 
tle with the battle left out. It was very evident 
that both parties were anxious to bring on a general 
and decisive engagement, and yet neither felt that 
he had sufficiently the advantage of position to open 
the battle. After some hours standing and manceu- 
vering, we moved by the left flank and were again in 
motion for an all night's march. 

On the nextdav, the 17th, the enemy was again 
upon us. Lines of battle were again formed, the ar- 
tillery being brought into play, but after flanking 
and counterflanking. our line again moved on. We 
arrived that evening at Yellow Bayou, some four 
miles from Simm's Landing, on the Atchafalaya. 
where the fleet had anchored. The army formed a 
line of battle and men lay down on their arms to 
sleep, ready to spring to their guns at any moment. 
A strong picket line was thrown out, and as an evi- 
dence of how completely men were worn out for 
want of sleep and rest, it is said that the officers of 
the "grand rounds,'" in making their tour of inspec- 
tion that night, found the majority of the men of the 
picket line asleep on their picket posts. There are 
officers of the 32nd Iowa still living who can testify 
fo this fact. And it was said that this same" state of 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 



affairs existed on the picket line of the enemy. What 
a wear is such army life. During the forenoon of 
the 18th slight skirmishing was kept up. About 
noon the enemy showed themselves in force, opening 
tire on our entire line with musketry and artillery. 
Shaw's brigade moved back across the pontoon 
bridge, near a cluster of large, old, dead oak trees, 
and also near a group of old dead pines. The enemy's 
grape and canister, together with occasional solid 
shot, came tearing through the old tree-tops, scatter- 
ing the branches in all directions. Their fire would 
have told upon our entire line with fearful effect, 
had not their guns been trained too high. As it was, 
the greatest danger was from falling tree -tops. 

The artillery moved up and took position a little 
to the left of the Thirty-second Iowa, while other ar- 
tillery took position to the right and opened a lively 
fire, the roaring of the artillery becoming incessant. 
This position was held for about an hour and a half 
in a broiling hot sun, until a number of our men fell, 
while in the line, from the excessive heat. To add 
to the scene, the old trees were fired by the blaze of 
the artillery, sending up great sheets of flame and 
smoke. The fire ascending from the old pines was 
especially grand. The enemy then withdrew their 
artillery, and massing their forces to the left of the 
Thirty -second, were moving forward in solid lines to 
charge and capture the artillery. The Thirty-second 
was then ordered to move forward by left oblique, 
on double quick, under a raking fire of musketry and 
artillery, and also exposed to the fire of rebel sharp- 
shooters posted in the trees off to our left, taking 
position behind an old levee and just behind the ar- 



2<8 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

tillery. But on came the enemy, with a piercing 
treble yell as they charged across the open field. But 
closing - up their depleted ranks, on and still on they 
came, until almost up to the mouths of our cannon. 
Our artillery men had mostly fallen, and every horse 
on the battery had been shot down. 

The artillery was then run back to the rear of 
our regiment, '•Fire ! Fire /" was the order, as our 
men poured into their ranks a deadly volley at close 
range. The troops on our right also moved up 
and poured into their ranks a murderous fire. The 
artillery again opening with shell and shrapnel 
caused their lines to recoil. 

But falling back, the attack was renewed and 
again renewed. Our men. lying behind the old levee, 
which made a slight breastwork, delivered them vol- 
ley after volley at close and deadly range, until their 
commander, the "Wily Prince of France," Polignac, 
certainly felt that he had spent life enough in the 
vaiu attempt to turn or flank or break our line. 

General Mower complimented the men and offi- 
cers of the Thirty-second Iowa for their gallant 
movement by the left flank, under such a galling, en- 
filading fire of artillery, musketry and sharp shooters. 
That movement saved to us the day. and turned what 
Polignac supposed to be to him a grand victory with- 
in his grasp to defeat. It was in this movement, 
however, that our regiment received nearly its entire 
loss of the day. The brave young Myers, of Co. F., 
was killed, and Lieutenant Templin, of Co. D, one of 
the bravest and best officers of the regiment was shot 
through both thighs, losing one leg. 

Polignac withdrew, leaving Mower master of 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 279 

the field. 

On the forenoon of the 18th, the fleet of trans 
ports, lying - in the Atchafalaya at Simmsport. were 
shoved in side by side until they filled the stream 
from bank to bank, and then they were tightly bound 
together by ropes, and thus their bows made a com- 
plete bridge. The stream here is about one hundred 
rods wide, with almost perpendicular banks. On 
this pontoon of boats the troops and trains marched 
over. The Nineteenth Corps crossed while the 
troops of Smith were engaged in the battle of "Yel- 
low Bayou." The rear guard did not cross until the 
20th, and at 4:30 p. m., the bridge of boats was torn 
up, and the fleet moved up stream. The Red river 
campaign was ended. 

Commodore Porter says. "We had passed 
Ihrough scenes that tried the metal of men." Gen- 
eral T. Kilby Smith says, "We have marched over 
four hundred and fifty miles and been under fire 
twenty-nine days." 

Some years ago the writer stopped at the resi- 
dence of a gentleman now holding an important of- 
ficial position in the state of Iowa. I noticed in his 
library a history of the rebellion written by an east- 
ern college professor. On taking it down and turn- 
ing to the history of the Red river expedition and 
the taking of Fort DuRussy I found this concise 
piece of history: "Fort DuRussy was taken by the 
stratagem of Gen. Banks without the firing of a gun." 
Such a statement will certainly sound a little strange- 
ly to some men now living who were in the charge 
of March 14, 18H4, and Generals Smith and Mower. 
Colonels Shaw and Scott, are doubtless great skeptics 



280 TM1KTY SECOND KEGIMENT 

in regard to the truth of the statement, and as equally 
great disbelievers could be found in Commodore 
Porter, and the officers and men of the two advance 
gunboats of his fleet, the Eastport and Neosho, the 
only two boats of the twenty-one in the fleet who 
took any part in the fight, and they hauled off when 
they found Shaw's brigade close up under the guns 
of the fort picking the gunners. The Red river here 
runs for several miles almost due south and then 
makes a sharp turn to the north, forming a peninsu- 
la about half a mile wide. It was at this sharp bend 
that the fort was built, so as to command the river 
up and down for miles. The gunboatmen found that 
in throwing their shot and shell they were endanger- 
ing the men of Shaw's brigade, who formed the 
right of the charging line. So they withheld their 
fire and stood off, mute spectators of the infantry 
taking by storm what Dick Taylor declared l 'no Yan- 
kee troops could ever take." 

But again that grand word-painter, Carlton, in 
his history for boys and girls as published in the 
National Tribune entirely ignores the 32d and 14th 
Iowa regiments as having any part in the battle of 
Pleasant Hill or repulsing the cavalry charge of the 
enemy. When, in fact, as the official report of the 
brigade commander. Colonel Shaw, shows the 32d 
Iowa suffered more than any other regiment in the 
battle, and the 14th Iowa the next heaviest loss. 
Such mis-statements can only be accounted for on 
the ground of shameful carelessness, and no great de-~ 
sire to get at the real facts. 

Again Sir Carlton speaks of Grand Ecore as be- 
ing the steamboat landing for Alexandria and five 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 281 

miles distant therefrom. This may seem strange to 
some of the boys who spent six days in marching 
and countermarching, flanking and counterflauking 
movements between those two places; and especially 
when one of Bank's staff officers stated under oath, 
before the committee of congress on the conduct of 
the war, of which Senator Ben Wade was chairman 
that we "marched in one night (the night of April 
22, 18t)4) after repulsing the enemy in a sharp skirm- 
ish, 82 miles without a halt." The sectional map of 
Louisiana shows that Grand Ecore is forty miles by 
the section lines west of Alexandria and thirty-seven 
miles north. 

Such statements are no doubt two fair samples 
of how much truth there is in much of the written 
history of the war. 

"Much of the "inner history" of this campaign, 
doubtless, never has been written; never will be, and 
now, never can be. How much of its failure was due 
to jealousy and envy among our own Generals? Who 
can tell? 

There is much unwritten history in this aud 
some other campaigns which if truthfully written up, 
would make more interesting reading than very much 
that is written; and would place a goodly number of 
prominent Generals and other officers in a very differ- 
ent light before the world from that in which they 
now stand. 

The troops marched across the peninsula and 
camped at Morganza's bend. On the 22d, while the 
fleet was lying at Morganza's bend, I hunted over 
the transports Oheautau, Sioux City and Des Moines, 
in search of John Myers, who was killed in the bat- 



282 THIRTY SECOND KEGIMENT 

tie of the 18th. Some of the boys who were near 
him thought he was not dead when the regiment 
changed its position, and hence might have been 
brought into the Des Moines, then our hospital boat, 
by the ambulance corps. I was granted the privi- 
lege of searching the boat to see if I could recognize 
my man, but what a sight! There was scarcely a 
spot from the boiler to the hurricane deck, where a 
man could be laid, but was occupied by a wounded 
man. Men lay there who were wounded in almost 
every conceivable way. I noticed one with both 
arms off. another with both legs gone — blown off, I 
think, by a shell— and a few were fearfully rriangled. 
These were only a small part — those of Mower's di- 
vision. Afterwards on searching the records of the 
ambulance corps on Mower's headquarters boat, I 
found this:- -J. Myers. Co. F. 32d Iowa, killed. ,T 
How brief, and what it tells: Killed on the field of 
battle; and tills an unmarked gravel" 



Report of Maj. Gustavus A. Eberhart, Thirty- 
second Iowa Infantky, or Engagement 
at Yellow Bayou. 

Headquarters Thirty second Iowa Infantry. 
Steamer Southwester, May 23, 1864. 

Sir:- In relation to the part taken by my com- 
mand in the action on Bayou De Glaize, on the 18th 
instant, I have the honor to report that at 10 a. m. 
my regiment was ordered forward with the brigade 
to engage the enemy. In the brigade we occupied 
the position of Third Battalion; on the right, Twenty- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 283 

seventh Iowa and Twenty-fourth Missouri, on the 
left. Fourteenth Iowa. 

During the first part of the action, being in the 
second line, we were under a heavy fire from artill- 
ery. Some guns from Third and Ninth Indiana Bat- 
teries being thrown forward on the left, the Four- 
teenth Iowa was detached as support. A few minutes 
after the cavalry on the left, being pressed very 
heavily, gave way. permitting the euemy to bring a 
heavy force against the left. At this time I receiv- 
ed orders to move by the left flank into the woods; 
but the enemy having advanced so rapidly as the 
batteries came out. Brigadier- General Mower in per- 
son gave me orders to change front by filing the 
battalion to the left, which was done in time to meet 
the attack. Being at the left of the battalion I found 
the right to have been detached from the Twenty- 
seventh Iowa and moved back to a ditch, forming an 
oblique line toward the enemy. This, I have since 
understood, was done by orders given by an officer 
belonging to Brigadier General Mower's staff, but 
without my knowledge. The enemy was repulsed 
after a brisk action of ten or fifteen minutes. We 
were afterward thrown forward into the woods, but 
were not again under fire. Owing to the intense 
heat and necessary rapidity of our movements, many 
of the men were entirely exhausted and had to be 
carried from the field. Officers and men conducted 
themselves in a creditable manner during the engage- 
ment. I send herewith a list of casualties. 

G. A. EBERHART, 

Major, Commanding Thirty -second Iowa Infantry. 



[It is seen from the above official report that 
Major Eberhart led the 32nd Iowa in the battle of 
Yellow Bayou. As stated by Captain Burns in his 
account of the battle, General Smith and Staff were 
with the transports, where the bridge of boats was 



284 THIRTY SECOND KKGIJMENT 

made over the Atcbafalaya. and did not know that a 
severe engagement was in progress until Polignac 
had been beaten off and driven back by Mower. In 
the same manner Colonel Scott missed his share in 
this battle, and for the same reason.] 



Headquarters Second Brigade. Third Division, 
16th Army Corps. 

Vicksburg, Miss., May 26, 1864. 

Captain: — I have the honor to report the part 
taken by my brigade in the action of Bayou DeGlaize, 
May 18. 1864. 

My brigade was placed in reserve at the com- 
mencement of the action. I was ordered to send for- 
ward a regiment to support a battery on the right. I 
sent forward Major Fyan, Twenty fourth Missouri. 
I next sent to the left my two Napoleon guns, under 
Lieutenant Burns, Third Indiana Battery, my two 
James rifles having already been engaged under 
Lieutenant Ginn. I was next ordered to send an- 
other regiment up to support the batteries on the 
left. I sent forward the Fourteenth Iowa, command- 
ed by Capt. L. A. Crane. This left but two regi- 
ments in reserve, viz.. Thirty-second Iowa. Major 
Eberhart commanding, and Twenty -seventh Iowa. 
Colonel Gilbert commanding. I soon perceived that 
the enemy was pressing closely our left, and without 
waiting orders I ordered the two regiments in re- 
serve to move slowly to the left while I rode to the 
front to see how the battle went. I soon saw that 
the cavalry on the left had given way, and that the 
enemy was turning our left flank. I immediately or- 
dered the reserve into line at double quick, fronting 
to the left, when the enemy made their appearance 
through Lhe timber in their front, but a well directed 
lire from the Twenty-seventh and Thirty second 
Iowa, the Ninth Indiana Battery, and the two 12- 
pounder Napoleons of the Thiid Indiana Battery. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 285 

also the Fourteenth Iowa, which had changed its 
front, soon sent them back with heavy loss. The 
enemy, having- been heavily re-enforced, again ad- 
vanced, when I was ordered to move forward and 
meet him. I moved forward, meeting him in the 
<clge of the timber, driving him out of the timber, 
across an open field, under the protection of their ar- 
tillery, inflicting upon him heavy loss. I then halted 
and withdrew with the balance of the line out of 
range of canister, and remained till dark, when we 
fell back to the ground occupied the night before. 
My list of casualties I have already forwarded. My 
loss, though heavy, is comparatively light when it is 
considered that I was twice engaged at short range 
with nearly four times my number of infantry, and 
that I was for two hours under a heavy fire of ar- 
tillery. 

WM. T. SHAW, 

Colonel, Commanding Brigade. 



CHAPTER XXVIII 



Return to Vicksburg — Battle of Lake Chicot — 
Return to Memphis- -Tupelo Campaign- 
Suffering From Heat- Battle of Tu- 
pelo And Old Town Creek — Retukn 
to Memphis — Oxford Campaign 
—Forrest in Memphis. [Boyd.] 

••On the 22d the regiment again took its accus- 
tomed position on the hurricane deck of the old 
'"South Wester," and were soon out in the main chan- 
nel of the Mississippi. The night of the 26th found 
us at Vicksburg, and our connection with the old 



286 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

"South Wester" as headquarters severed forever. 

On the 30th of May, Colonel Scott resigned, and 
made a short parting address, giving his reasons 
for so doing. The men of the regiment parted with 
the Colonel with regret. 

On the 3d day of June, we boarded the steamer 
"White Cloud," and on the afternoon of the 5th were 
landed at Sunny Side, below what is known as "Old 
River Lake," or Lake Chicot, in Chicot county, the 
southeast corner county of Arkansas, and said to be 
the richest county, in proportion to the number of 
its inhabitants, in the state, containing some of the 
finest plantations in the South. The lake is of a 
horseshoe shape, with the points of the shoe extend- 
ing towards the main channel of the river. At the 
upper part of ihe curve of the lake is the pretty lit- 
tle town of Lake Village, the county seat. Here 
Gen. Marmaduke had established his headquarters 
and with his own division, and Colton Green's and 
Burbridge's was making general war on all gunboats 
and transports passing up and down the river. To 
dislodge them was the object of our move. Start- 
ing on the morning of the 6th we marched over a 
road terrible for mud. At times it rained very hard, 
and then the sun would come out hot and sultry. 
About 10 o'clock we came up to the enemy, strongly 
posted across "Ditch Bayou," an artificial channel 
cut for the purpose of draining some marshy land 
into Lake Chicot. The banks were very steep, mak- 
ing it impossible at most points to cross. On the 
south side was an open, level field- then deep with 
mud— over which we must make the attack, while on 
'he north side was a thick growth of heavy timber. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 287, 

and in this timber, by their own statement, they had 
fourteen pieces of artillery, so stationed as to rake 
our advancing lines with an enfilading fire, and they 
also had their infantry sheltered behind the large 
trees. A portion of our brigade, now commanded by 
Colonel Moore, of the Twenty-first Missouri, was 
thrown forward in a strong skirmish line, but present- 
ing au irregular front, so as to evade, as far as pos- 
sible, the raking fire of the enemy's artillery; and 
taking advantage of some shallow ditches made to 
drain the ground, advanced cautiously, "picking off 
their gunners and shooting the artillery horses," and 
from the protection of the shallow ditches "galled 
the enemy's artillery severely." (so says one of their 
own reports) advancing to within one hundred yards 
of the bayou. But every step advanced brought us 
ihe raking fire of their artillery. After several hours 
struggling, in the advancing of our lines under such 
a galling fire, a charge was ordered across the open 
field on double quick up to the very brink of the 
bayou, when the order was, "Down ! Down !" as we 
dropped flat down behind a slight embankment at 
the edge of the bayou, while the rebels from behind 
their shelter opened fire from their artillery thund- 
ering forth a "deadly chorus" to the sharper ring of 
their rifles. In the meantime our artillery had mov- 
ed up on our right to near the mouth of the bayou, 
and began to pour a raking fire of shot and shell into 
the timber. The following extracts from the rebel 
accounts of this engagement may not be uninterest- 
ing reading to some of our own boys who were there: 
"With an increased force they (the Union lines) ad- 
vanced to the assault. Again the battle awoke from 



268 THIRTY SECOND UKGIMENT 

its temporary lull; the forest trees quivered in the 
fierce concussions, and the smoke that lay heavily 
on the earih in the damp atmosphere, shrouded the 
field and almost hid the combatants from each other. 
But beneath this smoky canopy, the thunder of guns 
rolled out slowly and heavily, giving evidence that 
they were working under an oppressive fire, but 
they (the Union forces) were working steadily and 
with effect. Above the din and turmoil arose the 
shouting of the adverse lines- the high passionate 
commands of the officers, and the wild, fierce cheers 
of the men. The enemy held on long and hard. A 
growth of cane just behind the Confederate lines 
Mas cut almost as with a scythe. Each time the 
Federals advanced and retired, they extended their 
lines still further up the bayou, thus compelling 
Marmaduke to extend and weaken his line to prevent 
being flanked. The Confederate position was no 
longer tenable. Marmaduke gave the order to with- 
draw." The staff officer, then on Marmaduke's staff, 
who carried the order for withdrawal, was for years 
since the war, a respected citizen of Hardin county, 
Iowa. The same authority admits that their loss 
was severe, both in officers and men. "Of the four 
remaining staff officers on the field, not killed or 
wounded, three had their horses shot under them." 
Our loss was light considering the advantage in 
position possessed by the enemy. Every man lost 
by our regiment was shot dead, showing how com- 
pletely the enemy's sharpshooters were sheltered 
and took deliberate aim. We camped for the night 

at Lake Village, enjoying a portion of the enemy's 
camp. 

On the 7th a march of twelve miles brought us 






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'south, was drawn by Mary S. Scott, Nevada, 
asant Hill, and revised by Col. W. T. Shaw. 



(jV.V.j 










This Plan of the Battle of Pleasant Hill, comprising a space of three miles east and west by two miles north and south, was drawn by Mary S. Scott, Nevada, 
Iowa, from plans furnished by Corporal D. W. Robbins, approved by S. E. Galloway and other citizens of Pleasant Hill, and revised by Col. W. T. Shaw. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 



289 



to the head of the lake. In the afternoon and even- 
ing the Rebels attacked our rear, and there was some 
lively skirmishing. The gunboats came into play 
and did some lively shelling. The enemy claim that 
they captured a portion of our rear guard. 

The loth found us camped in the rear of Mem- 
phis, endeavoring to rest and shelter ourselves from 
the intense heat of the sun, little dreaming of the 
tragic disaster that day taking place at Guntown, 
Miss., that should bring us at once into another hard 
campaign. 

On the morning of the 12th all was excitement 
in military circles in and around Memphis. Orderlies 
were riding in all directions among the different com- 
mands. News of the crushing defeat of General 
St urges by Forrest at Guntown w T as fully confirmed. 
Sturges left Memphis on the 2d with 10,000 veteran 
troops. Be lost 3000, killed, wounded and prison- 
ers. Of a train of 200 fine six mule teams and new 
wagons only one wagon came back. Forrest got 199; 
of his ambulance corps not one returned. Forrest 
got all. Of his artillery Forrest got all but one dis- 
abled gun. It was against such a foe, now exulting 
in victory and boasting that victory had always 
perched on his banners that we were now to make 
our next campaign. 

Sturges was said to be one of the handsomest of 
men "his ambrosial curls being the admiration of 
Southern ladies." Some Ohio boys, who escaped 
the massacre of their regiment, charged that he was 
in a house having a good time with some ladies when 
Forrest surprised him. 

Smith and Mower were ordered to get ready to 



"94 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

driving- away the enemies skirmishers. The beef 
was killed, cut up, and put in the camp kettles and 
bung on the tire; but just as it commenced to warm 
1 he cry was, "pack up! pack up! camp kettles! camp 
kettles! Fall in, fall in! quick! quickV The camp 
kettles were jerked from the tires, meat flung on the 
ground. The men marched up a long slope of a hill 
about a mile, and then halted and remained in line 
three or four hours where we could see that meat 
lying on the ground becoming duly fly blown, while 
our stomachs said "'Oh, for some of that meat!" 

On the 16th we made a march of twelve miles, 
having still some skirmishing. In the evening the 
enemy made a dash on our camp. We were called 
out in line; moved out into an old field. The night 
was dark, except an occasional twinkling of a star. 
We formed in line of battle. The enemy was in line. 
at close range, and made the very heavens appear as 
in a blaze, with the lire of their musketry. We 
stood quietly in line. They overshot us, wounding- 
several men, left sick in our camp nearly a mile be- 
yond. One of them. Orcutt, of Co. A, I think died 
of his wound thus received. The enemy retired. 

The regiment returned to Memphis July 23, hav- 
ing had much hard marching. At times very scant 
rations, and suffered much from excessive heat. 
The men were worn down, needing rest. Many of 
them unfit for service. A short ten days rest, and 
then another trip after Forrest. 

August 3d brought marching orders. Moving- 
partly by rail, the evening of the 4th found us at 
HollySprings, Miss. The night was intensely warm, 
with a suffocating atmosphere; the low, hung sky 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 295 

was ominous with black clouds. Pitching our little 
•'dog- tents,*' the boys crawled in and were soon 
asleep. Soon the heavens wore the "blackness of 
darkness." One gust, and our"wee tents" were gone 
1othe winds, and the rain coming down in torrents. 
It came sidewise, crosswise, and then in whirling 
sheets, and the men first stood bewildered while the 
lightning played around them in all the grandeur of 
a southern thunder storm, but by the aid of the 
lightning we discovered some old buildings used as 
cow stables, where we took shelter until morning. 

Remained at Holly Springs until the 17th. 
Nearly every day we had orders "to be ready to move 
at any time.'" In the meantime we found a line field 
of Irish potatoes, and the country around abounded 
with peaches. These, when cooked, and also an oc- 
casional mess of roasting ears, added to our scant 
supply of hard tack, made fair living for soldiers, 
and together with the rest of thirteen days, some of 
the boys suffering from dysentery recruited finely. 

In the meantime Mower's scouts were scouring 
the country, and he reported back to Memphis that 
"there was no enemy in our front in force." The or- 
der was returned from General Washburn, "Hunt 
hurt up and whip him." 

The 22nd of August was a hot day. We were 
trudging along in the dust, and sweltering in the 
scorching sun near Oxford. Suddenly the order rang 
along the line. "Haiti Haiti Standing for a time 
in the broiling sun the order rang along the line, 
"About face] About face !" "What is up *?" rang out 
from nearly every man. "What is up !" echoed a 
horseman, as he came dashing along on a horse white 



296 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

with foam. " Up enough! Here we are hunting for 
Forrest, and Forrest is in Memphis. And he got old 
Washie's new military suit and his gold watch, and it 
is a pity he hadn't got old Washie." 

A story is told with too much truth, of another 
General whose shoulders were adorned with a double 
star. General Forrest knew just where his head- 
quarters were, and gave him a dashing call, but Mr, 
Union General was not at home; he was out on a 
drunk. Forrest was in a hurry and his call was early 
(8 o'clock) in the morning, and he could not wait for 
the Yankee General to sober up and get home, else 
he would have taken him along for a merry ride 
through our picket lines. 

When we turned back we had some sharp skirm- 
ishing on the Hatchie river; took quite a number of 
prisoners, one of whom was said to be a woman 
dressed in man's clothing. Two days of heavy rains 
had so swollen the streams as to carry away the 
Hatchie bridge, and made the Hatchie bottom swamps 
terrible to cross. Wagons sunk down to their beds 
in mud. We were mud bound there for two days. 

The regiment returned to Memphis on the 30th, 
a tired set of men. worn down and foot sore. 

Some years ago, Mrs. Wittenmeyer, one of that 
noble band of army nurses, whose noble work has 
never been fully appreciated, lectured at Eldora. 
8he was describing her efforts to get the sick and 
wounded, who had been sent from Vicksburg, after 
the siege, to that death hole, Helena, shipped to 
Memphis where they could be better cared for. and 
the great difficulty of getting transportation because 
the general commanding at Memphis was too shame- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS, 297 

fully drunk The writer asked the privilege of guess- 
ing the name of that general, hut she promptly re- 
plied, "no I fear you are too good a guesser." 



A Close Call. 

It was at Old Town Creek that William Trow- 
bridge, of Company C, was for a short time fatally 
wounded in the haversack, as some of the comrades 
will remember ! Trowbridge is now a prosperous 
citizen of Carroll, Iowa. On request he furnishes 
the following statement of the calamity which there 
befell him: 

••When Forrest was making it warm for the 32d 
Iowa, and A. J. Smith's •'Guerillas,'' we had been 
inarching and fighting for two or three days on about 
one third rations a day, and were all about played 
out. Our quarter master had, as we marched along, 
gathered up what cattle he could, and on the even- 
ing of the charge at Old Town Creek we laid in line 
of battle expecting the Reb's to come in on us every 
minute. The cattle were butchered and issued out to 
us in chunks, and as I had nothing to eat since 
morning I was ready to eat almost anything. Some 
of the boys were too near petered out to sit up and 
roast their meat. But I for one had mine on a forked 
stick and between nods and naps was trying to roast 
my chunk. Just as I got it good and hot, about 8 
o'clock p.m., here comes the rebs.pell mell. The first 
shell that they sent bursted under the Major's horse, 
and killed him. Away went the long roll to fall in. 



298 THIRTY SECOND KEGIMENT 

Thinks T, whether I am dead or alive,! will have this 
chunk of meat; so I shoved it down in my haversack, 
and away we went after the rebs, and. -drove them 
back. We were then ordered to lay down on our 
arms for further orders. We were halted on a sand 
ridge, all fell to the ground, and in the charge my old 
haversack had swung around in front of me, and 
when I fell the haversack was between the hot sand 
and my body. I fell into a cloze, and being so near 
dead thought no more about my meat; but in a short 
time I was awakened by something hot and wet. I 
was sure I was wounded there, and dare not turn over 
for fear my bowels would come out. Anson Black- 
man of Co. E was near me, — as the regiment was 
mixed up some, and urged me to turn over. My 
tongue clove to the roof of my mouth; my jaws and 
eyes were set; I was sure that my time on earth was 
short. But I slowly turned over on my side, and the 
old haversack and meat peeled off, and when 1 could 
get my breath to speak I told the boys what was the 
matter. I got the piece of meat out, and, looking up 
at the stars. I was not long in getting away with it; 
but would have finished it sooner if T had not let it 
fall out of my hands two or three times, and had to 
feel around on the ground for it. I then turned over 
and knew nothing until about 4 o'clock a. m., when 
the rebs were retreating. It was some time before I 
heard the last of my 'wound !' " 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



Move to Cairo — Where Next? — Movements of 
the Enemy— Knights of the Golden Circle 
—Move to St. Louis — Trip to Ironton — 
Pursuit of Price — Fight at the Little 
Blue, or West Point — A Scene, 
Grand, Beautiful and Terri- 
ble— Capture of Marmaduke, 
Campbell, etc,- Return to 
St. Louis. [Boyd.] 

'•Six clays rest, and -then on the steamer Ed Wash 
and going up the Mississippi river, landing at Cairo 
September 7th. 

Here the query was, where next shall we go? 
Sherman, I believe, desired that Smith's command 
should go to Mobile and aid Can by to capture that 
city, and make it a base to connect with him at At- 
lanta, and thus -'open a shorter line for his supplies 
by way of Montgomery, or still better, by the lower 
Chattahoochee to Columbus." But about this time 
were the desperate struggles, the death throes of 
the Confederacy. Lee was staggering about Peters- 
burg. Grant was coiling around him, and Sheridan 
was in the full flush of victory in the Shenandoah; 
Sherman was holding Atlanta, and preparing to still 
further dissect the South Atlantic states. Jeff Davis 

was hurrying south from Richmond to consult with 

Hood and other rebel leaders how to cripple and 



300 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

crush Sherman. Hood's campaign north to Nash- 
ville was being planned. The diabolical scheme for 
the burning of Chicago, under the leadership of Col. 
G. St. Leger Grenfell (at one time an officer on 
Bragg's staff and afterwards Gen. John Morgan's 
Adjutant General) was being rapidly matured. 

But down in southern Arkansas another scheme 
was being planned. In the little town of Tulip, Dal- 
las county, Arkansas. Generals Price, Magruder, 
Marmaduke, Pagan and Shelby are in consultation, 
and an invasion of Missouri is decided upon. "It 
would employ," said they, "thousands of soldiers al- 
ready ordered to Thomas." Much reliance was 
placed, especially by Price and Marmaduke. upon 
the secret orders of the Knights of the Golden Circle, 
Golden Cross, or Copperheads. "They had frequent 
visits from these sleek looking gentry, with mysteri- 
ous books, signs, grips, signals, pass-words, and in- 
cantations enough to get up a dozen Macbeth's witch 
dances." With these encouraging helps, and the 
success of the "burning Chicago scheme," and the 
"Mines secret conspiracy scheme of St. Louis," they 
could "seize St. Louis, and Jefferson City, march 
through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, into Kentucky 
and on to Richmond." (See "Shelby and His Men," 
also an article in the Marshall (Tex.) Republican, by 
the rebel Governor Reynolds, of Missouri.) "This 
was the program marked out by General John B. 
Magruder." The same writer compares the north- 
ern allies to drones in the hive, they would buzz but 
not sting. And again to the little "Prairie Dogs," 
when no danger was near they would keep up an 
eternal barking and cavorting, but at the first crack 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 301 

of a gun they were buried deep in the earth with 
owls, lizzards and snakes. 

On the 14th of September General Price left 
Batesville, Ark., on this Missouri campaign. On the 
same day the steamer Ed Walsh left Cairo with a 
portion of Smith's command on board, including our 
regiment, for St. Louis. The boat sticking on a sand 
bar- twenty five miles below Cape Girardeau, we were 
taken off by the Golden Era, and at the Cape trans- 
ferred to the Shamrock. On the 17th we were land- 
ed below St. Louis, and went into camp near Caron- 
delet. On the 25th the regiment boarded the train 
for Pilot Knob, ( General Price was then marching 
against Ironton, ) stopping at Desota, and from thence 
to Mineral Point, landing there at 3 a. m. of the 27th 
in a drenching rain and pitchy darkness, and throw- 
ing out pickets. The divisions of Marmaduke and 
Fagan were then assaulting the forts of Pilot Knob, 
held by Gen. Evving. The assault was repulsed with 
heavy loss to the enemy, but as Shelby and other re- 
inforcements were moving against him, Ewing, on 
the night of the 2eth, blew up his magazines and 
withdrew. Our brigade fell back and took position 
on North Big river, and returned to Jefferson Bar- 
racks on the 29th. 

General Price, then moving w r est of St. Louis, 
concent rated his forces at Union, Franklin county, 

Missouri. 

To our own troops there was one day's rest to 
draw rations, and then the ever to be remembered 
chase after 'Old Pap' 7 Price. Sunday 7 , Oct. 1st, the 
command was again in motion, moving to Gray's 

Summit, where it remained until the 7th, awaiting 



302 TH1KTY SECOND liKGlMENT 

supplies. Starting again it marched for Sedalia. 
But the enemy, retreating in our front, had destroy- 
ed the gigantic bridge across the Osage. (This 
bridge was destroyed by Col. Shanks, who led the 
charge against our left at Cape Girardeau, and who 
was wounded in the charge on the gunboats, in the 
affair of the Little Red.) Col. Shanks was fearfully 
wounded in defending the passage of the Osage. He 
shot a Union soldier who was in the advance of our 
line endeavoring to force the crossing of the stream. 
And the Union soldier in return shot him clear 
through the body. Shanks bounded from his horse 
and fell heavily to the ground. He was a daring and 
expert leader, and a man of powerful physical endur- 
ance; left in our hands as dead, taken to our hospital 
at Jefferson City, he finally recovered. 

When out- men came to the cold mountainstream, 
w T arm from hard marching, it was "plunge in and 
wade it,*'the water in places coming to their arm-pits. 
Is it any wonder that some old soldiers suffer from 
rheumatism? Leaving Sedalia on the 19th. we 
marched until midnight, when a halt was called, to 
draw three day's half rations. In two hours the com- 
mand was, "Fall in! Fall in!" We marched all day 
and all night until 8 o'clock on the morning of the 
2lst. Then the order was. "halt; stack arms, and 
make some coffee." But before the coffee was swal- 
lowed, boom! boom! came the roar of artillery. 
Marmaduke, Fagan, Shelby and Cable had made a 
stand and were disputing the passage of the Little 
Blue. 

"Fall in! fall in! quick! quick!" again ran along 
the line. A forced march all that day, as the enemy 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 303 

was rapidly retreating. At dark the order was, halt; 
one hour to make coffee. In one hour Shaw's brigade 
was ordered to move out in front, with the 32d Iowa 
in advance of the brigade. Another all night's march 
until 4 o'clock in the morning, passing through Inde- 
pendence, Mo. Again a halt was called near West- 
port. Price had left the field, his last stand before 
turning south. When this halt was called the regi- 
ment could only make one "gun stack" (four men) to 
the company. A rest of only a few hours, and the 
regiment marched to the field of battle and to help 
bury the 'dead and care for the wounded. 

This is known in rebel reports as the battle of 
Westport. Shelby admitted a loss of over 800 killed 
and wounded in his own brigade, and many of the 
wounded were struck three times. Westport was 
a'place of more than ordinary interest in the Kansas 
troubles, being the base of operations for the Missouri 
border ruffians. It was the post office for the String- 
fellow legislature when in session at the "Shawnee 
Mission House," and the notorious Sheriff Jones, of 
Douglas Co., Kansas, was at the same time post- 
master-of this Missouri town. And Shelby's old bri- 
gade, being largely made up of the old border ruffian 
element, chose this as the place for a stubborn fight; 
and they fought with the desperation of despair, but 
they could not stem the tide of the fearful onslaught 
made by Pleasanton's cavalry and the gathering 
forces of our infantry. Their own historian of this 
campaign, Townsend, says "Westport was the turn- 
ing-point in the expedition. After it were the hor- 
rors of defeat, hunger and pestilence." Our com- 
mand then turned south in pursuit of the retreating 



304 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

foe, burning and destroying - as they retreated. At 
times four or five houses could be seen burning at 
once. It was said that two-hundred stacks of hay 
could, at one time, be seen in flames. As our army 
moved across those prairies in line of battle, the 
whole presented a scene, grand, beautiful and terri- 
ble. 

Striking the rear of the enemy, commanded by 
Shelby, drawn up in battle array to receive the as- 
sault, our artillery opened lire, sweeping his lines, 
and according to their own report, "rent horses and 
riders into shreds of quivering, bleeding flesh. 
Horses without riders galloped among the wounded, 
who were crawling all over the plain; dismounted 
dragoons dragged themselves to the rear; and men 
came pulling themselves along in such numbers that 
they seemed like a broad fringe to the edge of a bat- 
tle." 

But the enemy was again soon in rapid retreat, 
and another all night's march of thirty -five miles and 
the stream known as the Maries de Cygnes, in Bates 
county, Missouri, a main branch of the Osage river, 
was reached by the enemy. Here he made another 
stand. Daylight disclosed him, in front, in force, for 
a final and desperate struggle. This day was a day 
of fighting, skirmishing, flanking and counter- flank- 
ing, and by the time the hoar frosts of that chilly 
night of October 24. 1864. had commenced to whiten 
the earth, Marmaduke, Cabell, Slemmens and Jeff- 
ries, with nearly their entire commands, were prison- 
ers of war. 

Our own men lay down to sleep on the cold 
ground, tired! tired! a completely worn out set of men, 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 305 

while the enemy, certainly in no better plight continu- 
ed their flight. Price halted not again, any more 
than he could help, until he reached Clarksville, 
Texas. "And the great expedition to Missouri, be- 
gun in joy and high expectations to Missouri, ter- 
minated in this little Texan village, in doubt, misery, 
and despair."' 

Our command returned to St. Louis by way of 
Lone Jack. Independence, Lexington, and thence on 
the north side of the river via St. Charles. 

On Nov. 3d the snow was six inches deep, and 
our men marched with no rations except parched 
corn. On the 5th crossed the Missouri river at Glas- 
gow, reaching Fayette, the county seat of Howard 
county, on the 7th, wading through mud, in snow 
and rain, and still living on parched corn. On the 
*th was election; 318 voters were present with the 
regiment, of which Lincoln received 290 and McClel- 
lan 23. The boys might well remember the after- 
noon and night of that election day, from the enjoy- 
ment of a thorough drenching in a storm of rain, 
sleet and snow. On the 9th it was again an all day's 
rain and snow. In fact, from the 1st to the 15th of 
November it was mingled and continuous rain, sleet 
and snow, and then severe frosts. The roads at 
times, were covered by a strong frozen crust, making 
them rough in the extreme. And again they were 
deep in mud, of that miry clay of which parts of Mis- 
souri can abundantly boast. 

On the 2d of November Rosecrans received an 
order from the secretary of war to have A. J.Smith's 
command march from Warrensburg to Boonville,Mo., 
and be shipped thence to Paducah, Ky., but owing to 



306 TH1KTY SECOND K EG 1 ME NT 

the low stage of water in the Missouri, they were 
obliged to move by land to St. Louis. 

Often on that return march, the men might well 
exclaim: 

"Oh! that a mosey bank our conch might be; 
A spreading oak our canopy." 

But they might recall that other couplet: 

"That in this warring chase 

The soldier had no choice of resting place.'" 

By a glance at the map and the various places 
through which the regiment marched, including the 
countermarching and flank movements incident to 
such campaigns, it may be fairly estimated that 
the command marched 700 miles from the time it left 
St. Louis. Oct. 1st. until its return, Nov. 18th. The 
command returned to St. Louis on the evening of 
Nov. 18th, and filed into the old camp, "Claib Jack- 
son." after one of the very hardest campaigns of the 
war. Many of the men were completely worn out, 
ragged and barefoot. Some of them cut off portions 
of their blankets with which to wrap up their feet, 
and thus marched through snow, mud. slush and over 
the hard, frozen ground. And why w T as this short- 
age in rations and clothing? [ heard an officer of 
Gen. Smith's staff say at the post office in St. Louis 
that '"it was a burning shame. All that was necessary 
was an order from the commanding general, and 
clothing and provisions could have been shipped to 
them." Then who was to blame? Had General 
Rosecrans too much opium, or General Smith too 
much whisky, or was there a wrong admixture of the 
opium and the whisky? 

Before leaving the Missouri campaign, it may be 
of some interest to take a glance at the other side, 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 307 

conducted as it was, in part, at least, on the plan of 
guerrilla warfare. Prom the capture and then mur- 
der of Major Wilson, at Pilot Knob, and the retalia- 
tion of General Rosecrans. it became on the part of 
1 he guerril la portion of their army a "pitiless war- 
fare." Edwards, in defending- the guerrilla depreda- 
tions of such men as Quantrell, Anderson and "Bill 
Pool," says: '"Its warfare was pitiless, its banner 
the black flag and its battle cry the fearful monosyl- 
lable, 'Death!' The guerrillas were unerring shots 
with revolvers and excellent horsemen, and, accord- 
ing to the same authority, "death was to them mon- 
arch." But this pitiless warfare appears to have 
been wreaked, in some instances, at least, upon both 
friend and foe, they themselves being witnesses. 
Some of their own officers and men. says Governor 
Reynolds, were "pitiless as famished Bengal ti- 
gers." 

Thomas C. Reynolds, elected lieutenant govern- 
or of Missouri on the ticket with Claiborne Jackson 
as governor, and at this time claiming to be the con- 
federate governor of Missouri, accompanied the ex- 
pedition as a volunteer aid to Gen. Marmaduke; and 
a few extracts from a communication published by 
him in the Marshall, Texas. Republican, in Decem- 
ber. 1864. may give an inkling of the campaign on 
their side. He says. "Andersons butchery of 200 
federal soldiers in North Missouri spread a black flag 
panic among the citizen soldiery." Again he says, 
•It would take a volume to describe the acts of out- 
rage; neither station, age or sex was any protection. 
Southern men and women were as little spared as 

unionists: the elegant mansion of Robert E, Lee's 
niece and the cabin of the ne^ro were alike ransack- 



308 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

ed. John Deaue, the first civilian ever made a state 
prisoner by Lincoln's government, had his watch rob- 
bed from his person in the street of Potosi in broad 
day, as unceremoniously as the German merchant at 
Frederickston was forced, a pistol at his head, to 
surrender his concealed wealth. The clothes of the 
poor man's infant, the merchant's silks and calicos, 
curtains from the rich man's parlor, and jeweled 
rings forced from the tinkers of delicate maidens, 
whose brothers were fighting in Georgia, in Cock- 
rell's Confederate Missouri Brigade. At Boonville, 
the hotel occupied as Gen. Price's own headquarters 
was the scene of public revelry at night. Guerril- 
las rode unchecked in open day before it, with hu- 
man scalps hanging to their bridles; and enriching 
themselves by plundering the families of our own sol- 
diers in the confederate service. On still darker 
deeds I shudderingly keep silent. God-fearing men 
trembled lest, in heaven's anger at the excesses 
which marked the campaign, some thunderbolt of 
calamity should fall upon our arms. It did fall, and 
like a thunderbolt. Any attempt of official reports 
to veil it, of a court martial to bury it, will only re- 
coil. 'The robbery of the wicked shall destroy 
them.' " 

The last sentence certainly contains a truism. 
And then that this statement should come from the 
last pretended rebel governor of Missouri!'' 



CHAPTER XXX. 

Start For Nashville— Down The Mississippi 
And up The Cumberland — Arrival at Nash- 
ville — Very Pleasant Weather — Rain And 
Cold— Rumored Removal of General 
Thomas — Loyal Men's Feelings Then 
in Regard to Andrew Johnson — 

Battle of Nashville- Pur- 
suit of Hood — Arrival at 

East Port, Miss. 

[Boyd. J 



But another campaign is before us. Thomas is 
calling loudly for Smith; Hood is pressing Scholield 
across the Tennessee, and pushing for Duck river. 
Thomas is calling to Schofield to hold Hood in check, 
hoping that Smith may be able to reach him by the 
19th, but Smith has just filed his troops into camp at 
St. Louis. Time is precious; Smith is to be the 
Blucher of Nashville. In one short week men must 
bn clothed and transportation had. But the 24th 
brought marching orders to Nashville, and the 32nd 
Iowa is on board the steamer Olive. As the steamer 
Imperial, loaded with the quarter master's stores of 
the 2nd division, was shoving out from the wharf at 
St. Louis, General Dodge, standing on the shore, 
called to its captain, Howard, "Make all haste to 
Nashville, Thomas needs you!" The Mississippi was 
low. and the boats were loaded down to their guards. 



310 THIRTY SECOND lU'XJIMENT 

Wherever a man could be stowed away on a boat 
there was a soldier. 

The fleet found some trouble in going down the 
Mississippi; the "Imperial," with our Division Quar- 
ters stores, broke her rudder on the bar of Devil's 
Island; while the "Erving" was snagged and totally- 
wrecked on a sand bar opposite the Devil's Bake 
Oven; her soldiers and stores taken off and packed on 
the other already overloaded and overcrowded boats. 
Further down the Omaha was snagged and sunk; her 
stores and troops must also be packed on the other 
boats. But the Ohio and Cumberland rivers were in 
good boating stage. 

Fifty seven transports move 1 up the Cumber- 
land, with several gunboats back and forth as patrol 
guard. Report said that our wily old foe. General 
Forrest, was also on patrol, and that our own Iowa 
Hatch was on his trail with his mounted troopers. 

About 8 o'clock on the morning of Dec. 1st we 
were in Nashville. The desperate battle of Frank- 
lin had just been fought the day previous, and Scho- 
tield was falling back on Nashville. 

For the tirst time in ten days, after reaching 
Nashville, the writer was camped in Court 8quare,at 
the court house, being then in the division quarter- 
master department, and while there had an opportun- 
ity of hearing the leading loyal men of Nashville ex- 
press an opinion of men and things, and was sur- 
prised to hear some of them then freely express a 
want of confidence in Andrew Johnson. The Regis- 
ter of Davidson county, a man, who, I believe, had 
been loyal and true under all circumstances, a native 
of Massachusetts, but for many years a citizen of 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 311 

Nashville. — remarked that Andrew Johnson was, in- 
tellectually, a strong - man, a man of a massive, pow- 
erful brain; but it was too often stimulated by bad 
whisky; that he was a man of extremes; a strong 
hater; and his better judgment too often clouded by 
prejudice. 

These Union men said they would have much 
preferred to have had the Union element of Tennes- 
see under the leadership of men of the Emerson Eth- 
ridge and Horace Maynard type. 

The ground upon which the battle of Nashville 
was fought was a mass of hills, knobs and ravines. 
About ten miles south of this city are what is known 
as the Brentwood Hills (and here is where General 
Thomas at first designed to meet Hood and give him 
battle, i In these hills two streams or creeks rise 
not far apart, and flow almost parallel with each 
other for several miles toward the city; then, bend- 
ing off. one to the northwest enters the Cumberland 
river several miles below the city, while the other 
turns to the northeast and enters the river some miles 
above the city. 

Along the divide, or watershed, between these 
streams runs the "Granny White" pike, leading south 
from the city. Little streams running each way 
from the divide into these creeks form a mass of hills 
and little valleys. 

Our command moved about half a mile south- 
west of the city and camped in line of battle. The 
next day we moved about one mile further on and 
nearer the enemy's lines, and began field entrench- 
ments with an abatis of timber cut down and sharp 
pointed stakes firmly planted in the ground in front 



312 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

of the entire line. This line of defensive works was 
completed by the morning of the fifth. 

Every day there was more or less skirmishing 
between the picket lines of the two armies; and also 
some "artillery practice." 

During the next three days the skirmishing was 
brisk, and our artillery, and especially the heavy 
guns of the forts, sent a free supply of shot and 
shell into the enemy's lines, to which they briskly re- 
plied. 

By the afternoon of the 8th, our lines were com- 
pletely and strongly entrenched, and all things ap- 
parently ready for a forward movement; and an or- 
der passed along the line, '"Be ready in two hours." 
Up to this time the weather was all that could be de- 
sired, but it began to get foggy, chilly and cold; and 
rain began to fall and freeze as it fell. The ground 
was soon a vast sheet of ice. The morning of Decem- 
ber 9th dawned with a severe storm of sleet and 
snow, making it rough in the extreme for men in the 
trenches or on the picket line. The storm scarcely 
abated until the morning of the 14th, when it began 
to thaw, and as it thawed it became foggy, and then 
it was mud. Oh! theciay mud! 

On the 12th and 18th rumors were rife at divi- 
sion headquarters that General Thomas was remov- 
ed and that General Schofield, General Logan or 
some one else would be appointed in his place, "who 
would fight." Some papers received from home ap- 
peared lo vie with each other in denouncing General 
Thomas and painting the stupidity of "Old Slow 
Trot," who, with his vast army was simply lying 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 3I3 



around Nashville in idle stupidity while Hood had 
him hemmed in. 

How grandly some of our friends at home, seat- 
ed in a nice, well furnished room or office by a warm 
tire could tight our battles for us! They understood 
the moves that should be on the warring chess board 
to perfection, just when and how to make them. And 
then they had a better place in which to make the 
moves than the men in the trenches in that pitiless 
storm of sleet and snow, or in that dense fog and 
mud; but the men of the line, in their simplicity, had 
all confidence in -Old Pap Thomas." 

On the evening of the 14th the following order 
was received: -Reveille will be sounded to-morrow 
morning at 4 o'clock. The troops will immediately 
eet breakfast, break up their camps, pack every- 
thing, and be prepared to move at 6 o'clock. But at 
o'clock the earth was shrouded in a dense fog, and 
it was impossible for troops to move. By 8 o clock 
the fog began to rise; when quickly and silently the 
troops along the entire line began to move mtc .posi- 
tion for an advancing line of battle. About noon the 
fog cleared away and disclosed one of the grandest 
armies set in battle array. The battle of Nashville 
was opened in earnest. From the right flank tote 
left over every hill top and through all the little 
valleys and ravines, it was a constant blaze of mus^ 
ketry. The artillery brigade of seven batteries and 
Garrison's artillery of twelve batteries opened fire 
These together with the heavy guns of the forts and 
the artillery attached to the different brigades began 
to hurl their shot and shell on their errand of death 
The very heavens appeared to be rent and the earth 



3J 4 THJKTY SECOND UEGIMENT 

to tremble. No one who has never been there can 
have a complete realization of such a scene. The en- 
emy was soon keenly alive to the contest. Their 
shot and shell came hurling through the air over our 
heads. 

Our division, the Second, commanded by Gener- 
al Kenner Gerrard, held the left of Smith's command; 
McArthur's first division on the right and Moore's 
third, the reserve. 

Stanley's 4th corps, now commanded by General 
Thomas J. Wood (Stanley was disabled at Frank- 
lin), Schofield's '23d corps and Steadman's troops ex- 
tended from our left to the river above the city; the 
Hank protected by Wilson's cavalry and gunboats, as 
the right flank below the city was by Hatch's cavalry 
and gunboats. 

The battle line was an irregular semi-circle 
(owing to the hills, knolls and ravines.) and about 
seven miles long. The battle of Nashville was not 
fought by detail, but was a battle fought complete in 
all its parts. Every part of the command was mov- 
ing into position, or ready to be deployed, flanked or 
moved, as occasion might require; for this reason it 
is more difficult to write up the part taken by any one 
regiment or division. 

Steadily our lines moved forward among hills, 
knolls and raviues. buildings, stone fences and stone 
wails. (It was while making the attack on .one of 
those stone walls that Colonel Hill, of the 35th [owa 
brigade on our right, of McArthur's division, was 
killed.) A little past noon we advanced to a steep 
hill, quite high and of an irregular shape. It had 
been covered with timber, and the timber cut and 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 315 

slashed, making the ascent difficult. The cone of 
the hill was well fortified and held by the enemy. 
Just below the summit was an intrenchment, and 
just below the trenches an abatis, rows of sharp 
stakes driven in the ground. It was the key to their 
line. It must be taken! The troops on our left were 
to attack on the left, while our regiment with others 
were to make the right. There was a lull in battle. 
The echoes of the musketry and artillery had died 
away in the distance. But it was a mere breathing 
spell. Soon the artillery was in position all along 
the line, and hurling shot and shell around that hill 
top with fearful rapidity. A strong skirmish line 
was shoved out up the hill, while the main line fol- 
lowed with the screeching and crashing of the shot 
and shell from our own artillery passing overhead. 
The enemy opened with his artillery- and musketry, 
but his fire appeared to be distracted by the heavy 
concentrated tire of our artillery; for up! up! went 
our line: up the steep ascent, working through the 
abatis and over the enemy's intrenchments. The 
enemy retreating, several pieces of artillery, stands 
of colors, and a large amount of small arms fell into 
our hands, together with many prisoners. Their 
tirst line was completely broken, and they were mak- 
ing a precipitate retreat. Our loss was very light, 
but in the rapid ascent of the hill, men were com- 
pletely out of breath, and lines were thrown into 
confusion. It took some time to let them take breath 
and reform the regiments. Then came the order to 
move to the left and in pursuit. A strong skirmish 
line was thrown forward, which soon became engag- 
ed with the rear guard of the retreating enemy. But 



316 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

soon it became so dark that it was impossible to move 
without great confusion; and all not sent out on the 
picket line were ordered to lie on their arms. It was 
a bleak, chill. December night, and men whose blood 
was well warmed by the exertions of the day, lay 
down to sleep on the cold wet ground, with naught 
but the sky for a covering, and with orders to "be 
ready." 

The morning of the 16th dawned chilly and 
slightly foggy; but by 6 o'clock men were in motion. 
Owing to the unevenness of the ground they moved 
to almost every point of the compass, across the 
ridge to the left of "Granny White" pike. After 
some two hours or more advancing and manceuver- 
ing. the skirmishers came up to the rear guard of the 
retreating foe, when the lively work again commenc- 
ed. 

The enemy kept fighting and falling back. 
About noon he had retreated to his main and strong- 
ly fortified line on the Overton hills. Sky's hill, and 
the north peaks of the Brentwood hills. A strong 
skirmish line was sent out to crawl up and shelter 
themselves behind every rock, log or point they 
could find, get as near the enemy's works as possible, 
and pick off and annoy their artillery men, by a sys- 
tem of sharp shooting, and divert their fire. Artil- 
lery, as well as musketry, shooting down hilt, nearly 
always overshoots. 

All our artillery on the field was then brought 
into position and opened fire, bringing on another 
grand artillery duel. The division on our left was 
ordered to make a charge on the left peaks of the 
Overton hills. It was gallantly made, but repulsed 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 317 

with heavy loss. Its leader, Gen. Post, was killed. 
Again there was a lull in the combat. For a few 
minutes an apparent indecision on the part of our 
officers as to what next. 

It was said that Gen. Thomas then rode to Gen. 
Smith, on the field, and said. "General, can your men 
storm and take those works?" pointing to the peaks 
of the Overton hills and to Shy's hill. "I don't know, 
1 don't know," said Smith, "but they can try, sir." 
"Then," replied Thomas, "order the charge." The 
artillery then opened fire again along the entire line. 
The artillery amunition on the field was becoming 
well nigh exhausted. The six-mule amunition wag 
ons stuck fast in the still deepening mud, and details 
of men were made to carry the amunition from the 
wagons to the batteries. The artillery firing again 
became terrific. They thundered forth a deadly 
chorus, as up and still up moved that line of infan- 
try; the 82nd Iowa ascending around the right peak, 
while our artillery was sending shot and shell over- 
head crashing around the summit of that hill, and 
the enemy's artillery came screeching and crashing 
down overhead. And the fip! fip! of the musketry 
also came whizzing by. In fact, it was a storm of 
artillery and musketry hailing down, but nearly all 
passing overhead. The salient points of the enemy's 
works were struck. They were strongly intrenched, 
and just below their intrenched line, a complete net- 
work of Chevaux de frieze. It was through this net- 
work and over the intrenchments our line must go. 
But the fire of the enemy appeared to be somewhat 
confused. In fact the enthusiasm with which the ad- 
vance was made along our entire line appeared to 



3J8 THIRTY SECOND liKCIMENT 

make them realize that they could not successfully 
resist the impetuosity of the charge. It had been 
said that the rebs did not fight with the same degree 
of courage at Nashville that they did at Franklin. 
Be that as it may, their works were carried by 
storm. The key to their second and strongest line 
was gone. To them it was a complete rout. 

The loss of our regiment w T as three killed and 
fifteen wounded. 

But night was coming on. The sky was over- 
cast with dark and somber clouds. A drizzling rain 
had already set in, and soon it became so dark that 
troops could not be moved. Men were ordered to 
lie down as best they could, but to be ready for the 
pursuit at morning's dawn. It soon settled down to 
an all night's drenching rain. 

Among notes taken at the time, I find the follow- 
ing item, obtained at division head charters: 

"When General Thomas ordered the move in 
pursuit of Hood, he ordered the pontoon train to be 
moved out on the Franklin Pike, but the clerk, in 
writing the order, wrote, 'Murfreesboro Pike,' " and 
the train was ten miles out before the mistake was 
discovered; and hence the delay in bridging Duck 
river, giving Hood that much time to get away. 

The next morning we were on the move at dawn, 
and after the usual standing and waiting in the rain 
for several hours, started along the '"Granny White" 
pike, and theu turned off to the Franklin pike. The 
march that day was merely a wade through mud and 
slush, in an all day's rain. The camping that night 
was merely lying down by the road side, every man 
as best he could, thoroughly soaked and covered 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 319 

with mud. On the 18th it was the same, with still 
deepening and thickening slush. 

On the 18th we crossed the Harpeth river and 
went into camp on the battlefield of Franklin, not far 
from the Carter house, a place of more than tragic in- 
terest in that fearful combat. 

The march to Spring Hill and Columbia was 
monotonous for mud and rain. On coming to Duck 
river, w'e had to stand in the mud and wait until a 
hridge was built. All the streams were full to over- 
flowing. Small streams, mere rivulets, would swim 
our six-mule teams. The army of Hood, although 
badly beaten, scattered and demoralized, still was en- 
abled to keep a well handled cavalry rear guard, 
commanded by General Forrest, that destroyed all 
the bridges in their rear and our front, making the 
pursuit, considering the weather and roads, a toil- 
some march. 

From the 19th to the 25th it was rainy. From 
the 25ih to the 28th, for variety's sake, we had rain 
and sleet, while on the last two days of 1864 rain, 
sleet and snow w r ere beautifully combined, and that 
on the sunny line of Tennessee. Turning to the 
northwest, with half rations for a New Year's treat, 
we reached Clifton on the night of January 2, 1865, 
and on the 4th we boarded the steamer Clara Poe, 
landing at Eastport, Miss., on the morning of Janu- 
ary 9th, when we received orders to put up winter 
quarters. 

The train moved by land from Clifton to Savan- 
nah, and did four days' hard work in moving twenty- 
two miles, owing to mud and swollen streams. 

Sometimes six mule teams would be wading in 



320 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

water over their backs in little streams, which, in 
ordinary times, were mere rivulets. On reaching - 
Savannah, the teams were all worn out, and were 
shipped thence on steamboats. 



In further illustration of the events in this Chap- 
ter — the Battle of Nashville — the following extracts 
from letters written by Captain Brockway to the 
girl he left behind him. and which were penciled on 
the field, are here inserted. Liberty has been taken 
to omit the sweet confidences that lovers will some* 
times commit to paper, as the experiences and mem- 
ories of many will enable the reader to supply these 
without special effort. 

Battle Feld near Nashville, 

Dec. 16, 1864. p. m. 

* * * * 

I don't know how to write to you to-night. I 
am too full of joy to write. Long before this reach- 
es you you will have heard of the glorious work of 
yesterday and to-day. I cannot tell it. We have 
had two days of tremenduous fighting. Oh! it was 
sublimely beautiful to-day. We have driven Hood 
from all his works; captured many thousand prison- 
ers, and about 50 cannon. I suppose we will pursue 
to-morrow and there will be more fighting. Langu- 
age cannot begin to tell you how good I feel. Glory? 
Glory! Our loss has been heavy, but nothing in 
comparison to that of the rebels. Thank God, I am 
yet spared. I'll write you more when I have time. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS, 321 

though I can never adequately tell the story. We 
charged (our regiment) a battery, and their works, 
and took them; and thus charged for over two miles. 
You ought to have seen the rebels run, and surren- 
der! It was glorious! To-night I received your let- 
ter of the 8th inst.. the first one since yours of 21st 
hist., and it did me good. Don't you think I ought 
to be too full to write? A glorious victory and a 
glorious loving letter, both the same day! And I am 
thankful too. My own safety after going through 
such terrible scenes, the glorious victory of our 
arms, and having such a true noble woman as you 
are, are three things either of which ought to make 
me overwhelmingly thankful. And I know you, 
too, are thankful to Him "from whom all blessings 
flow." Every man in our company is a hero; I am 
as larg-e as a mountain, myself, to-night! 
* The mail is just going and I must close." 



"Franklin, Tenn., Dec. 18, 1864. 
It is better and better! Hood is fleeing, and we 
are pursuing, capturing men, cannon and small arms. 
We have got nearly every one of his cannon,— some 
where about 75 pieces, and our prisoners now must 
number 10,000, and they are still coming in. We 
have captured Major Generals, and Brig. Generals, 
and all of Hood's papers. It is a crushing defeat, a 
perfect rout, an overwhelming and glorious victory 
- more complete than any our arms have ever won. 
* * It was grand work. In five minutes we 
carried their works in front of us. It seems to me 



'622 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

it was nothing' less than providential that we lost no 
more, for we charged for a quarter of a mile through 
a perfect storm of bullets, and right up to the mouths 
of their guns. They tired their last discharge right 
into our faces when we were within a few 3'ards of 
their batteries. - They are running 

now like sheep, and our cavalry are right after them, 
and we are following as fast as we can. I dont 
think Hood will bring his army to a stand this side 
of the Tennessee River. He may then he reinforced 
by Breckenridge and Dick Taylor, but his main army 
is hopelessly demoralized. It seems to me that in its 
effect it is the greatest victory we have ever won, 
but perhaps you must allow something for my en- 
thusiasm. Such victories will end this war soon and 
then I can come home. 

To day we have heard that Sherman has taken 
Savannah. I have had no blankets since we march- 
ed out of the Nashville works to fight, but I could 
have slept upon an iceberg the last three nights and 
been above fever heat all the time. I write this on 
my knee while we are halted a short time; and I shall 
try and send it back some way." 



"Camp 32nd Iowa, 10 miles South of Franklin, Tenn., 

Dec. 20, 1864. 

We are resting to-day. - I 

have written you twice, hurriedly, and perhaps in- 
coherently, since the great battle. Both of those 
letters were written under the most unfavorable cir- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. o2o 

cumstances for calm deliberate thought. I have 
written you a great deal about the events of the last 
tew days, but at the risk of wearying you I shall 
write vou some more - - I cannot de- 

scribe the battle to you in full. No pen, no tongue 
earn do that. For two days the roar of battle was in- 
cessant. The first day we carried Hood's first line of 
works, capturing 15 to 20 cannon, and about 1000 
prisoners. At night he contracted his lines and fell 
b; ck to his second line of works. To drive him from 
these was the work of the next day. Early in the 
morning our whole line advanced. Our Brigade 
passed over several open fields, exposed to a severe 
artillery tire, and about 10 o'clock took position in a 
little ravine about five hundred yards from the rebel 
works. Our batteries took position on our right, 
left, and rear, and then commenced a furious artil- 
lery duel. It was awfully grand, — that artillery 
fight; but it was not pleasant. The air seemed alive 
with shrieking demons. Shells were bursting in 
every direction. We lay close to the ground, and 
hugged old mother earth closer than any of us had 
ever hugged our mothers or sweethearts. It was 
our only chance for safety. About 

12 m. a charge was made by the 4th Corps which 
lay on our left, but was repulsed. Also about 2 p.m. 
the cavalry on our right charged with only indiffer- 
ent success. It was reserved for General A. J. 
Smith's command to organize victory. About '6 p. m. 
the order came for '"Smith's Guerrillas" to charge 
the works in our front. We did charge; General 
Mower's Division immediately on our right taking 
the initiative, and carrying the key to the enemy's 



324 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

position, —a hill in their immediate front. For ten 
minutes it seemed as though all hell had broken 
loose! About two hundred pieces of artillery opened 
simultaneously, and thousands of small arms, and 
with a cheer we went in. As we came to the top of 
the hill in our front our artillery had to cease firing 
or they would have been killing us. But the rebel 
cannon raked us in every direction and there was an 
incessant whiz of musket-balls. But 'into the jaws 
of death, into the mouth of hell" we went with a yell. 
We climbed over their works; we rolled over them; 
we jumped over them; and then the rebels ran. 

Orders have just came to be ready to move at a 
moments notice. I can hear cannonading at the 
front, and suppose we are wanted there, and I must 
close." 



The Official Records do not indicate that there 
have ever been any serious differences of opinion in 
relation to the merit and bravery of the officers and 
soldiers who participated in the battles of this cam- 
paign. It will therefore not be necessary to give 
space to other reports than that of Lt. Colonel Eber- 
hart, who commanded the 32nd Iowa. It is as fol- 
lows: — 

Headquarters Thirty-second Iowa Infantry, 
In the Field, December 21, 1864. 

Lieutenant:— Of the part taken by the Thirty- 
second Iowa Infantry in the battle of the 15th and 
16th instant, I have the honor to report as follows: 

At 6 a. in. on the 15th, in obedience to orders 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 325 

from brigade headquarters, 1 formed the regiment 
on the right of the brigade, with my left resting on 
the Fifty-eight Illinois Infantry. The regiment ad- 
vanced in line of battle for more than a mile, slowly 
wheeling to the left, conforming to the movement ot 
the line on our right, From 11 a. m. until 4 p. m. 
we lay under artillery tire from a battery 1,000 yards 
in our front. When the works were carried by the 
forces in front we moved forward about one mile 
and a half, when we were ordered to go into camp for 
ihe nii<ht. The regiment was not brought into close 
action? and suffered no loss. 

On the morning of the 16th we were again on 
the right of the brigade, our right resting on the left 
of the First Division. The advance was ordered 
about 7 a. in , the line wheeling to the right to con- 
front the enemy's works. When within about 1,^00 
vards we came in full view of the enemy, drawing 
upon us a brisk tire from their battery, under which 
the men moved forward with commendable coolness. 
The First Division contracting in order to form two 
lines we were thrown by the flank to the right about 
half a mile. At this point we Jay under fire of the 
enemy's artillery for about five hours. At 6:60 p.m. 
the ri'fht of the First Division carried the left ot the 
enemy's works; we then moved forward at a double- 
quick over an open field, under a severe fire from ar- 
tillery and musketry, and in a few minutes gained 
the intrenchments, capturing about 50 prisoners and 
5 pieces of artillery. Some of the artillerists were 
killed as they were leaving the guns. Private Wil- 
liam May. of Company H, dashed forward and cap - 
,ured the battery guidon. The regiment moved for- 
ward in pursuit, gatheriug a few prisoners, untu we 
reaehed the base of the mountain, when we received 
orders to halt, At dark, the battle being over, we 
were ordered into camp near the mountain. 

Too much cannot be said in praise of the con- 
duct of the officers and men under the heavy fire dur- 
ing the charge; every one moved forward with a de- 
termination to carry the works. 

Where all behaved so creditably it is a delicate 
matter to make particular mention of persons, but 1 



326 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

presume no exceptions will be taken when I speak of 
Lieut. W. L. Carpenter, acting regimental adjutant, 
who was. as usual, conspicuous for his brave and 
gallant conduct in the action, and was among the 
first over the rebel works. Also, Capt. Theodore De 
Tar, commanding Company D, who, after pursuing 
the enemy to the mountain, was wounded in the 
right ankle, making an amputation necessary. This 
will cause the loss to the regiment of an officer who 
has always been esteemed for his excellent qualities 
as an officer and a gentleman. First Sergt. Daniel W. 
Albaugh. Company C, who was killed almost instant- 
ly by a minie ball, was one of our best non-commis- 
sioned officers, and was much loved by his company 
as an officer and comrade. They mourn his loss 
deeply. My thanks are due Maj. Jonathan Hutchi- 
son for his assistance during the action. 

1 cannot refrain from mentioning Color-Sergt. 
A. J. Ellis, of Company G, who carried the standard. 
Although once thrown to the ground by a glancing 
shot he refused to give the standard to any one else, 
but made his way forward and was one of the first 
over the works. Corporal Bell, of Company G, who 
bore the regimental colors, was noticed for his bra- 
very in action. 

I send herewith a list of casualties in the regi- 
ment, which is light, only because the artillery was 
aimed too high, and the infantry intimidated by our 
rapid firing as we advanced. 

Very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, 

G. A. EBERHAliT, 
Lieutenant- Colonel, Commanding Regiment. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



March to Iuka— Stay at Eastport— Rumors op 
Peace - Short op Rations— Rumors Where we 
Shall go— Weather— Board The Steam- 
er Groesbkck— Down River to New Or- 
leans Battle Ground— Thence to 
Dauphin Island— Storm on The Gulp 
-Farewell to Dauphin Island 
and Oysters— Up Fish River— 
Among the Stately Pines, 
Cypress Swamps and 
Torpedoes. [Boyd.] 

On the same day the command landed at East- 
port it marched to Iuka, After some hours spent 
among the scenes of Rosecrans , movements of Sep- 
tember 19th, 1862, and along the line of the Mem- 
phis & Charleston railroad, toward Corinth, and the 
scenes of the more desperate battle of October 4th, 
the command returned the same night to Eastport. 
Our stay at Eastport was characterized by nothing 
special except that we had a rest for a month, and 
the fact that for a time the mules were required to 
divide with us their rations of corn (two ears to the 
man per day); but with mulish stubbornness they 
refused us any share of their hay and straw. 

Papers received from home were filled with ru- 
mors of peace. Stephens, Greely, Blair, Campbell, 



328 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Hunter & Co., were attempting a peace that never 
could be peace. 

Robert M. T. Hunter exclaimed that "when the 
Lincoln government refused to recognize the con- 
federacy long enough to treat with it for peace, 
nothing beyond this is needed to stir the blood of 
southern men." 

Much blood was yet to be spilled, and destruc- 
tion o'er the land came pouring like a flood. Again 
there were rumors of an active campaign. 

Gen. Grant had ordered the '23d corps. Schofield's, 
sent to the Atlantic coast by way of Cincinnati, Par- 
kersburg. W. Va., and Annapolis, to New Bern,N.C; 
and Sherman desired Thomas to take an expedition 
through Alabama, and to connect with him in 
Georgia or North Carolina, and our rations and mails 
had been sent in advance. At least, on reaching 
Cairo, a mail was received, and some of the letters 
had been remailed from Sherman's command in 
Georgia. But it appears that Thomas was too slow 
in getting started to suit Grant and Sherman, and on 
the 26th of January Grant issued an order directing 
Smith to report to Canby, at Mobile. 

A few of the last days of January and the first 
of February, the weather was very pleasant, like the 
soft breezes of a June morning at home. But then 
in a few days came, 

"The lowering scowl of heaven, 
And an inkling hne of livid blue 
To the dark sky was given," 

It was cloudy and cold, with a chillness that was 
bitter; and mud in superabundance. By the 7th and 
Sth the wind came sweeping down from the north in 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 329 

regular blizzard style, freezing the mud solid. 

On the . ( Jth of February we boarded the steamer 
'•J. H. Groesbeck." As the weather had turned 
cold, with very chilly winds, our berths on the hurri- 
cane deck were no more than comfortable as we pass- 
ed down the Tennessee and Ohio. The chilly winds 
found every button hole, and pierced to the very mar- 
row. 

At Cairo we received orders to dispose of all sur- 
plus baggage and take nothing but what we could 
carry in the field. This indicated active work again. 
While passing down the Mississippi, frequent shots 
were fired from the Arkansas shore. Below Mem- 
phis one man of Co. B was shot through the heart, 
and four men of the 58th Illinois wounded. Febru- 
ary loih found us once more at Vicksburg. where we 
stopped four days. 

On the 21st we landed on the old New Orleans 
battleground. 

An order was received to make a complete re- 
port of all the men who had ever belonged to each 
company of the regiment. Those who had been kill- 
ed, died, or been discharged, to show where and 
when; and those who were absent, to show who they 
were and why they were absent. If sick in hospitals 
or on detached service, to show where, and date of 
absence. And the names of all present, and especial- 
ly of all present and fit for active duty. General 
Canby doubtless desired to know just how many men 
he could command for the Mobile campaign. 

The stay here among the historic associations 
of January 8, 1815, near the place where General 
Packenham had his headquarters, the monuments, 



330 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

cannon-carriages, etc. , of that notable day, maybe 
characterized as emphatically a day in the mud, rain 
and cold. 

Midnight's silent hour of March 5th brought the 
order, "Up, and be ready to move," but as soldiers 
we had then learned to stand and wait. It was six 
o'clock the next, evening when the regiment marched 
to the hurricane deck of the coast steamer, "Crom- 
well,'' which was closely packed with a human car- 
go. Not a spot on that hurricane deck where a hu- 
man being could be stowed but was occupied by a 
soldier. Room to comfortably lie down in was out of 
the question, but a hungry soldier can eat and a 
tired one sleep under almost any circumstances. 

We sailed down the Mississippi that night to the 
bar, and then waited for day. After passing the bar 
we were soon on the deep sea, and as the waters of 
the river were rolling out, the line of the demarca- 
tion between that and the blue sea water could be 
plainly seen. At first there was something bracing 
about the sea breeze; we enjoyed "a sniff of the sea 
air." In the afternoon a heavy gale springing up, 
made the vessel rock and heave. She would rock 
from side to side and then plunge forward into the 
hollows of the ocean, and the next moment be riding 
en the rolling billows. 

Soon the boys began to heave Jonah, and the 
railing around the deck was soon crowded with them, 
sending their breakfast and dinner over into the 
watery deep. But very soon the railing around the 
deck was more than full, and the men were in gieat 
danger of going over among Jonah's fish. And many 
were too sea-sick to care where they did their heav- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 331 

ing. Marshall says that "'Mere propriety and beauty 
are at a discount with a soldier when he is at dinner, 
asleep, or in a fight," and I might add w^hen he is 
aboard a crowded ship and sea- sick on a stormy 
sea. 

The "Cromwell" stood out to sea with a high 
pressure of steam, to prevent her from being driven 
on the rocks. That night and until noon of the 8th, 
the rain came down in torrents, and the wind blew 
heavily towards the shore, while we were being 
thoroughly drenched on that hurricane deck. About 
noon the rain ceased and it became calm, when the 
steamer Iberville came and took us off, landing us on 
Dauphin island. All our clothing was thoroughly 
soaked. 

The stay of eleven days at Dauphin island was 
a pleasant time. We were camped on a ridge of sand 
hills by a little grove of small pines, near a branch 
of Mobile Bay. When the tide was down the boys 
would take an old grain sack, wade out and fill it full 
of oysters. During our stay here we had a feast of 
fat things. 

But on the 19th it was farewell to rest and 
oysters. Boarding the irouclad 44 we moved out to 
Navy Cove bay, about 30 miles from Mobile, and 
thence to Weeks' bay and Pish river bar, when the 
gunboat was discovered to be on fire in the hold. 
Suspicion was aroused of treachery in the boat's 
crew. The regiment was transferred to the trans- 
port Starlight, and we sailed up Pish river. 

On the 21st of March the regiment camped at 
Donaldson's mills; in a beautiful forest of tall, 
straight pines. The trees would average about 1.50 



g§2 THJKTY SECOND REGIMENT 

feet high, with no limbs except a small cluster at 
the top. There was no underbrush, and the trees 
were far enough apart, in many instances, for a six- 
mnle team to drive between them. The soil on the 
ridges was nothing but sand; along the ravines it 
was sand and sediment, or washings, and there they 
appeared to raise a few T vegetables, sweet potatoes, 
etc., but on the ridges nothing grew except the trees, 
producing tar and turpentine. Old settlers said 
those trees would produce about $5 worth of turpen- 
tine to the tree per year, and the tree would bear the 
turpentine bleeding for about five years, and then 
die. I might add that old settlers were a little scarce 
then. Baldwin county had only about 200 inhabi- 
tants, all told. 

The roads along the ridges were all that could 
be desired for marching, and trains could move on 
them with all ease; but when we struck the low 
grounds among the cypress swamps they were horri- 
ble; even where corduroyed, six- mule teams were at 
a discount. 

A good story is told of Gen. Tom Benton. Find- 
ing one of his wagons down in the swamp, where the 
road was corduroyed, but badly demoralized, and the 
men tugging away without being able to move the 
wagon, he dismounted from his horse, took hold of 
the rope and called out, "Here boys, here is another 
mule!" But just as he gave a sur^e upon the rope 
his feet flew from under him, and away went Gener- 
al Benton, heels over stomach, down in the filthy 
mud and water. Gathering himself up and wiping 
the filthy water from his face, he joined with the 
boys in a hearty laugh and exclaimed, "Here boys, 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 333 

here are your mules for another pull; altogether 
now!" But just then happening to look up, he saw 
a second lieutenant (acting as quarter master) sitting 
on a horse clear out on dry land, and calling to the 
men in a tone of supreme authority, "Get that wagon 
outH This was too much for the Hawkeye relative 
of "Old Bullion. '' His laughing mood was gone; his 
blood was up; and straightening himself up as he 
stood in the mud and water he denounced the young 
lieutenant as a "whiffet of an upstart." and ordered 
him to get down off his horse, as "shoulder-straps 
had taken a fall." 

Some lieutenants w T ho were fortunate enough to 
get a detail on some general's staff, became vastly 
more important in their own eyes than ever General 
Can by thought of being, and could assume more dig- 
nity of style than ever that noble old "Princely Ger- 
man." General Austerhaus, thought of attempting to 
put on. 

Prom Donaldson's mills commenced the continu- 
ous move that culminated in the capture of the last 
defense of Mobile. The entire movement was one of 
caution on the part of commanding officers. Every 
time the command halted for the night a complete 
line of battle was formed, and before we laid down to 
rest the tall pine timber was cut and thrown in line, 
and with the sandy clay breastworks were soon made, 
so that surprise was impossible, except from sharp 
shooters and torpedoes, with both of which the pine 
woods appeared to be filled. 

On the afternoon of the 25th we were moving 
left in front into line of battle. The 3d brigade of 
the 1st division, commanded by Colonel Marshall, of 



234 THIRTY SECOND liKGJMKNT 

the 7th Minnesota, in advance of us, bad just formed 
tlieir line. The colonel had ridden back, apparently 
surveying the formation of his line, and suddenly 
fell to the ground. The ball passed through the 
neck, barely missing the jugular vein. Dr. Under- 
wood, of Eldora, the brigade surgeon, was soon at 
his side, and in two weeks he was again in command 
of the brigade. 

From t he 22nd of March until the 3d of April 
was continued skirmishing, with more than occasion- 
al torpedo bursting to break the monotony of the 
skirmish line. The roadsides were tilled with torpe- 
does, buried in the ground so that if man, horse or 
wagon should step on or pass over one so as to strike 
the plug, it would explode and scatter the missiles of 
death in every direction. 

On the 27th we made 14 miles, with the skirmish 
line well thrown forward, and at times the entire 
command thrown out in line under a lively fire of 
musketry, which, with the bursting of torpedoes and 
the roaring of artillery on our left, made a day of 
military music. Camping at Sibley's mills, on Sib- 
ley creek, six miles from the head of Briminette bay, 
the command fortified and prepared for an attack. 
The 27th was a day of lively skirmishing and fortify- 
ing. Prom the 2Mb to April 1st we were skirmish- 
ing and making gabions, and also ready at any mo- 
ment for an attack. On the 2d our brigade moved 
out of camp and made a cautious march among tor- 
pedoes, our regiment being in advance. Hearing a 
suddeu crash like the bursting of a shell in our front, 
upon looking up we saw Gen. Gilbert's staff and our 
regimental staff enveloped in a cloud of dust and 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 335 

smoke, and after it cleared away it was discovered 
that a torpedo had been planted by the root of a 
stump in the track, and one of the horses had stepped 
on the plug, causing - the instant explosion of the 
missile, and the death of two horses. One of them 
was the horse of Lieut. Child, of Co. K, acting bri- 
gade quarter master. 

Capturing a rebel officer who was posted in the 
torpedo planting, he was placed in charge of a force 
of rebel prisoners and, with a guard over them, given 
the contract of taking out the explosives and stack- 
ing them in pyramidal form. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



Siege of Fort Blakely — Surrender of Spanish 
Fort— Final Charge Over Chevaux de frieze 
and Torpedoes -Greek Fire — Charge of 
the Colored Troops— March to Mont- 
gomery and News of the fall of 
Richmond and Surrender of 
Lee— Rumors of Assassin- 
ation of Lincoln. 
| Boyd, j 

On the 3d the brigade moved out of the Sibley 
creek camp, going towards Fort Blakely, marching 
again cautiously among torpedoes and at times pass- 
ing the torpedo shells neatly stacked up (the shells 
were 13 inches in diameter), and formed line of battle 



336 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

in a pine forest a mile and a half from the Fort. 
One half of each regiment was at once set out on 
picket, and daring the entire niyht the sky was 
ablaze with the firing of musketry and artillery. A 
deep hollow or ravine, starting from where our regi- 
ment had its camp, cut down between two hills, mak- 
ing a steep descent in front of our camp. From the 
foot of the hill, stretching out to the guns of the 
fort, was a level space of ground which had been 
thickly covered with pine timber. The timber had 
been cut down and the ground planted with torpe- 
does. The ground was also thickly studded with 
sticks about six or eight inches in diameier and from 
six to eight inches in length, driven obliquely into 
the ground with the sharpened end out, about the 
height of a man's breast. This chevaux de frieze of 
timber was all woven together by wires, and wires 
were attached to the plugs of the torpedoes and wov- 
en into the wires of the chevaux de frieze. It was over 
and through this net- work that the guns of Fort 
Blakely were to be silenced. 

By going down the hollow our men were shelter- 
ed from the rebel shells. Each man had his gun in 
one hand and spade in the other. By going in the 
night with his spade they could soon dig a hole in 
the sandy soil large enough to bury themselves in, 
and they got into it too. Soon a trench was thus 
dug along the foot of the hill in full view of the reb- 
el works, and protected in front by a complete row 
of gabions filled with sand. Then, by branching the 
trenches in different directions toward the enemy's 

works, we were getting into neighborly closeness 
with the Johnnies. 

On the night of the 4th Co., B of our regiment, 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 337 

had one man wounded, and the 27th Iowa had three. 
The artillery firing- on our left all night indicated 
that the gunboats and mortars were doing some live- 
ly work. On the morning of the 5th the reserve was 
sent out at 3:30, relieving those in the trenches. Dur- 
ing that night the camp on the hill was shelled all 
night, but being a little over the top, the shells 
either struck the brow or passed over. But the camp 
was illuminated the entire night. 

Ai '2 o'clock on the morning of the 6th the entire 
reserve to a man was called out, anticipating a charge 
by the enemy upon our line, but it did not come. 
During the (ith and 7th the picket lines and trenches 
were still advancing, and at one o'clock on the morn- 
ing of the 8th the enemy sallied out and made a gen- 
et -a I charge along our entire line, and for a few hours 
the work was warm. Their shells were sent clear 
over into the reserve camp, wounding one man in the 
27th Iowa. 

The terrible cannonading in the direction of the 
old Spanish fort indicated that the crisis might have 
come there. But about 4 o'clock on the afternoon of 
April 9th the time, according to General Sheridan, 
when Generals Grant and Lee were seated in the 
house of Mr. McLean at Appomattox, completing 
the terms of Lee's surrender, a different scene was 
transpiring in the pine forest on the hill back from 
the Tensas. The long roll is beating. "Pall in! 
Fall in! every man who is able to shoulder a gun, 
fall in!" It was for the final charge on the last de- 
fense of Mobile. Spanish fort having already surren- 
dered. Forming into line and marching down the 
ravine, then filing to the right, we passed the 18th 



338 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

New York, "Mack's black horse battery,' sending 
shot and shell on their errands of destruction, and a 
little farther on the 15th Ohio and the 22d Illinois. 
Here our brigade was halted. Rebel siege guns were 
sending shot and shrapnel a little too rapidly for in- 
fantry to charge over that chevaux de frieze and net- 
work of torpedoes. Generals Smith and Garrard, 
after viewing the conditions,did not order the charge. 
But the 3d Indiana battery, corning down the ravine 
with their horses on a keen run (they had been en- 
gaged at Spanish fort), asked to take position to the 
right at the side of the 32nd Iowa. To our right was 
a bare knoll up in the edge of the pine timber, and 
exposed to full view of the rebel guns. Running 
their horses upon that, the lieutenant, commanding, 
raised his glass and ordered the elevation, when 
solid shot was hurled at one of the principal rebel 
guns, and it was soon silenced. The artillery along 
our entire line then opened with renewed vigor, and 
the very earth for a time appeared to shake with the 
booming of the heavy guns. 

Soon the order rang out along the entire line, 
"■Forward! Forwar&l" And the troops did make their 
way over and through that net-work of chevaux de 
frieze and torpedoes. "Charge! charge!" was the 
order, as the last ditch was reached. Soon the white 
fla^ was waving over their last defenses, and in a 
few minutes the stars and stripes were floating there- 
on. The last defense of Mobile was ours; the last 
great battle of the war was fought and the victory 
won, just as the sun was sinking in the west. 

"When shriek of shot and scream of shell 
And bellowing of the mortars"' 

were mingled with the groans of the dying, and the 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 339 

peans of victory of the last great battle of the war. 
Notwithstanding' all the precautions taken, a 
number of lives were lost by the exploding of torpe- 
does, and yet very few to what might naturally have 
been expected. But, no doubt, it caused General 
Canby to move with greater caution. It was said he 
notified the rebel general Maury that, in retaliation 
of the torpedo business, he would on the morning of 
the 9th commence to shell his works with "Greek 
fire." On the 8th it was reported, and I think it was 
a fact, that 5.000 '-Greek fire" shot were landed from 
a vessel in the bay for that purpose. But General 
Maury did not wait to take a sniff at the natural ef- 
fects of naphtha, nitre and brimstone, when thrown 
at him as a dynamite in the shape of ''Greek fire" 
shot, but during the terrific cannonading on the 
night of the 8th, it was said, he retired up the Ala- 
bama river, so as to be out of reach of even the sul- 
phurous smell. 

I have sometimes thought that our good English 
friends deserve a little taste of dynamite, to pay 
them for the aid they gave the rebels in this very 
torpedo business. 

Their brave Major Green, who was lauded and 
titled for inventing the projectile torpedo for the 
rehels. had better now be engaged in inventing anti- 
dotes for their dynamite troubles at home. 

CHARGE OP THE COLORED TROOPS. 

While we were moving forward, making our way 
among the net work of chevaux de frieze and torpe- 
does, away to our extreme right might be seen a line 
of colored troops, moving forward in battle array 



340 THIKTY SECOND ItKGlMENT 

with military precision, and as they moved they 
could be heard singing in complete chorus, "Remem- 
ber Fort Pillow!" On they moved, in spite of the 
zip! zip! of the minie ball, the solid cannon shot, or 
the bursting of the shells and torpedoes. It was 
Hawkins' brigade of colored troops. It was said they 
were facing Mississippi troops, and possibly some of 
them were with Forrest in the Fort Pillow massacre. 
The darkies faltered not; the Mississippi regiments 
gave way; the boys of color scaled the works, raised 
thereon the stars and stripes, and the Mississippians 
found themselves prisoners. 

Some of them it was said, were taken and guard- 
ed by their former - slaves! 

After carrying the works the regiment moved 
over into Blakely, a mere hamlet of a few houses, 
then the county seat of Baldwin county, Alabama. 

The men soon became restive, and began to get 
up sensational stories; the one who could get up the 
best story was the best fellow. A chap of Co. F 
went rambling off among the other troops, and came 
back exclaiming, 'Now, boys, we have good news; 
oh, yes boys, we have glorious news!" "What is it? 
What is it?" exclaimed the boys, "Let us hear it." 
"Why," said McHenry, "Richmond is taken, Lee has 
surrendered, peace is declared, and we are going 
home!" This was possibly the second day after 
Lee's surrender but the story was all a make-up of 
Mac's. On the 13th the command started for Mont- 
gomery. The night of the 14th camped in a pine 
forest. As we stood around the camp fire made of 
old pine logs and pitch pine knots, warming and 
drying our clothes aud blankets, after marching in a 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 341 

soaking all day's rain and wading streams, we little 
thought that the rebel hate of Wilkes Booth would 
that night send the pistol shot crashing through the 
brain of Abraham Lincoln; and thus infill the sad 
prophetic declaration made at Independence Hall, 
Philadelphia, when on his was to Washington to be 
first inaugurated, he said, "Sooner than surrender 
these principles, 1 would be assassinated on the 
spot/'' 

The 15th was an all day's rain and wading 
streams, and up to the 19th we passed very few farms, 
and they were merely little openings or clearings in 
the pine forests, and deserted. 

The 19th was a day of fasting, humiliation and 
prayer throughout all of the northern states, on ac- 
count of the death of Abraham Lincoln. Wherever 
the sentiments of loyalty prevailed, the church bells 
were tolling, and amid the solemn tolling of church 
bells, and the thundering of minute guns from all 
the defenses in and around Washington and all parts 
of the Union, his mortal remains were being convey- 
ed to the rotunda of the capitol for funeral services, 
while we. as yet, had received no news of his assas- 
sination. 

About 1 o'clock p. m., while trudging along the 
road in a thick forest of heavy pine timber, so dense 
that we could scarcely see the noon-day sun, we sud- 
denly heard firing in our front, accompanied by yell- 
ing and cheering. The men began to hurry forward, 
exclaiming "a fight in front." Then came the order 
to halt. The line halted, but still the cheering, yell- 
ing and firing of guns kept coming nearer. On look- 
ing up we saw a man on horseback, and he appeared 



M2 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

to be the one who was causing all the excitement. 
Wherever he went the boys would yell, cheer, throw 
up their hats, and some shoot oft' their guns. That 
man was Win. G. Donnan. of Buchanan county, then 
our brigade adjutant, with a dispatch announcing; 
ten days after it occurred, the fall of Richmond and 
the surrender of Lee. 

The 21st was another day of soaking rain, and 
the marching was a wading in the sandy clay mud. 
On the 22d, having passed through the town of 
Greenville, the county seat of Butler county, and 
having passed the residence of Governor Watts, the 
rebel governor of Alabama, at one time a member of 
Jeff Davis' cabinet, and who figured conspicuously in 
1 he old traitor's late grand tournament through the 
south, and his grand ovation at Montgomery, we went 
into camp at 3 p. m., and fired a salute of 200 guns 
in honor of the capture of Lee and fall of Rich- 
mond. 

I have a note in my diary that on 
the mornings of both the 23rd and 24th of April, 
although some distance below Montgomery, Alabama, 
we had heavy white frosts. 

On the 25th the command halted five miles below 
Montgomery, when we heard the first rumors in re- 
gard to the assassination of Lincoln and Seward. 
None could really believe it, and yet the rumor creat- 
ed apeticuliar feeling of distrust as to what might 
yet be the outcome of the rebellion. 

On the 27th we marched through Montgomery 
the boys singing "John Brown's body lies moulder- 
ing in the grave,"' and camped about two miles north 
of the town in a pine forest, near a cypress swamp. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. ^43 

where we could go, brush away the green scum, and 
get water for boiling coffee. For drinking water we 
hung the canteens full on a high tree, with the corks 
out. and by morning we had a fail' drink. 

Soon every man in camp was on the sick-list, 
with fever, ague and malarial diseases of a malig- 
nant nature. 

On the first day of May official uotice was re- 
ceived of the assassination of Lincoln. I need not 
say that it occasioned profound sorrow, not only 
with the Union soldiers, but even among the rebels. 
On the street corners in Montgomery clusters of citi- 
zens could be seen in earnest conversation, discuss- 
ing the effect it might have on their destiny. I 
heard a venerable old man, dressed in the Confeder- 
ate gray, remark that he knew both Lincoln and 
Johnson well. Lincoln was a Northerner and an 
abolitionist, but he was a man of a kind heart and 
personally a noble man. Johnson was a Southern 
man and had been a Democrat, but he was a harsh 
man, a strong hater, and one liable to go to extremes 
one way or the other. All things considered, he 
would much prefer that the destiny of the South be 
left in the hands of Abraham Lincoln than of An- 
drew Johnson. 

On the 4th of May the Montgomery papers pub- 
lished extras containing reports that Kirby Smith 
had surrendered the trans- Mississippi department, 
also telegrams from Sherman that terms of perma- 
nent peace were arranged. "And now," thought the 
boys, "surely we are going home." 

But on the bth or 9th many conflicting rumors 
were Hnoat in camp as to where we should go, when 



344 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

we should move, or what should be done with us. 
The fact that Kirby Smith had refused the demand 
for surrender as sent by General Pope under the in- 
structions of Gen. Grant, and the intimation that the 
seat of the Confederacy might be transferred to the 
west side of the Mississippi, the fact that a consulta- 
tion of the rebel governors of Louisiana. Texas. Ar- 
kansas and Missouri was being held; the prince Polig- 
nac, who had fought us so persistently on our Red 
river retreat, was then in consultation with Napoleon 
III of France, looking to the attaching of a portion 
of the Confederacy to Mexico, and establishing an 
empire or a republican aristocracy, and having the 
whole a dependency to Franco; and that General 
Preston was sent to Mexico to learn how matters 
stood between the Liberals and Imperialists — the 
concentration of their army on the Brazos, to move 
thence to the Rio Grande, join with one or the other 
of the contending parties in Mexico and establish 
either an empire or a republic— Gen. Buckner to 
take command — their resolve was that "no surrender 
should be resorted co, and no steps taken whatever, 
looking towark an abandonment of the contest," 

These things no doubt caused the holding of a 
large portion of our troops, and 1 doubt not some of 
our commanding officers were entirely willing to re- 
main in the field and still be brigadier and major- 
generals; and that an effort was made to have our 
command sent to Texas, while a counter move was 
on foot to have us mustered out as soon as possi- 
ble. 

Some of the officers of the 32nd attempted to 
open telegraphic communication with the Secretary 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 545 

of War, the main credit of which, I think belongs to 
Adjutant W. L. Carpenter, he spending $35 before 
meeting with success. 

On' the 10th of May we heard rumors of the 
capture of Jeff Davis, Clement C. Clay and other 
rebel leaders somewhere in North Carolina, but 
could learn no particulars. On the 17th we received 
positive information that Jeff Davis was captured, 
and then there was rejoicing. Although we never 
did hang old Jeff on a ''sour-apple tree." we rejoiced 
that he was a prisoner — petticoats and all — and that 
night every tree in that pine camp was illuminated 
by burning candles and lighted tapers making a sight 
at once beautiful and grand. 

The '25th was observed as a day of humiliation, 
and memorial services were held in respect to the 
memory of Abraham Lincoln. What loyal heart did 
not honor t he memory of the martyred Lincoln? 

The latter part of May and the first of June, the 
talk was that we should be mustered out and sent 
home. But on the 5th of June the whole going home 
business appeared to have -'soured on us." The 
weather had now become very hot and dry and the 
ground parched; in places great fissures were opened 
in the baked earth. Men sickened at the thought 
that they must lie there under the intense heat of 
that Southern sun and simply do nothing. 

On the 24th of June the regiment took a final 
leave of the cypress swamp, with its green-covered 
waters, and moved into camp about two miles away, 
on a plantation near that of Wm. L. Yancey, the 
once noted "Alabama fire-eater." Although camp- 
ing in the broiling hot sun, it was really an improve- 



346 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

merit, on lying beside the filthy, stagnant water of the 
cypress swamp. 

The Yancey plantation had a 20-acre peach or- 
chard, then loaded with a large crop of peaches. 
Home of the boys made overtures to pay an equiva- 
lent for the peaches we needed — $1 per bushel was 
the price in the Montgomery market — but they de- 
manded #4 per bushel. One of the boys replied, 
"We can steal them cheaper than that." That plan- 
ration and orchard was jointly and alternately guard- 
ed, and well guarded, by the 27th and 32nd Iowa; 
and now don't insinuate, kind reader, that we stole 
those peaches; but we g-ot all we wanted! 

The man who at the Democratic National Conven- 
tion of !So2 expressed himself (in one of their com- 
mittees) as anxious to have a civil war, and said. '"A 
war the South must have, and the sooner the better!" 
did not live to see the Yankee soldiers guarding his 
home plantation and peach orchard, while they 
feasted on the peaches. 

The late Governor Eastman several times told 
the writer that nt the time they were agreeing upon 
a platform at that convention— the Governor being a 
delegate from Iowa — Yancey demanded that the com- 
mittee on platform should insert a plank embracing 
the "Bob Toombs doctrine," that "they should have 
the right to call the roll of their slaves in the shadow 
of the Bunker Hill monument," Some one asked, 
"Yancey, do you want a war?" "Yes," he replied, 
"I do want a war; a war we must have, and the 
sooner the better for the South." 

The stay at Montgomery until July 31st was one 
of nervous restlessness, the men being nearly all 
-uck; the war was over, and they felt that they ought 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 347 

to go home. On the 28th of July the recruits were 
transferred to the 8th Iowa veterans. We parted 
with these recruits with regret. They came to the 
regiment at Vicksburg, and without any drill or pre- 
paration, had their first experience in Sherman's 
Meridian raid, from which they returned just in time 
for the Red river campaign — a hard initiation, truly. 
From Red river some of them never returned, but 
there tilled unmarked graves on the field of battle. 

Some of ihe recruits were mere boys, and some 
of tViose boys made soldiers true and tried. Some of 
them were men of mature years. From those re- 
cruits we had some of our best soldiers, and we left 

them behind with regret. 

On July 31st we boarded the steamer Joe Law- 
rence and sailed down the Alabama river. As the 
capital of the State, with the State-house where se- 
cession was first duly organized, and the arch fiend 
of the rebellion, Jeff Davis, inaugurated President of 
the Confederacy, was receding from our view, the 
boys gave it a farewell look without any feelings of 
regret. Thoughts of home were uppermost in our 
minds. We were homeward bound. 

Arriving at Selma, we camped in the streets of 
the greatest manufacturing arsenal of the Confedera- 
cy, among the ruin and devastation made by General 
Wilson's raid. Immense piles of arms of all sizes, 
grades and conditions of finish, were now huge heaps 
of rubbish, twisted and distorted by the intense heat 
into all conceivable shapes. Wilson burned all the 

arsenal buildings. 

August 1st we came down the Tombigbee river 

to McDowell's landing on a steamer, and thence by 

temporary cars to Meridian, Jackson and Vicksburg. 



348 THIRTY SECOND UEGfMENT 

marching where the temporary trains failed to con- 
nect. We arrived at Vicksburg on the 6th. a num- 
ber of the boys being completely worn out. The 
doctors believed it best to leave some of them at the 
hospital, but they thought it very hard to be thus 
left on the way home, and their comrades determined 
that it should not be. Samuel M. Woodward, of Co. 
F, was ordered to the hospital, but some of his com- 
rades said. "No, he shan't be left; he shan't be left, 
He stood by us, and now we will stand by him." 
They hired an old darkey with a carriage, took him 
to the river and carried him on board the steamer 
Von Phul. At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 12th 
the Von Phul landed us at St. Louis, also some of 
Missouri's rebel leaders. 

On the evening- of the same day the steamer 
Canada sailed up the river with the 32nd Iowa on 
board, and landed the remnant of the regiment at 
Clinton, Iowa, on the 16th. where it remained until 
the 24th to complete the mustering out. 

On that day each man who was left received his 
discharge, and we were soldiers no more — "melted 
back" to be citizens of a reunited country. 

A quiet shaking of hands, a brief farewell, and 

men who had stood shoulder to shoulder in the hard 

fought battles, and trudged side by side on many a 

long and toilsome march were separated. Their 

minds were tilled with visions of home and loved ones. 

left behind three long years before. 

But how many who went out with us never came 
back again? "Some sleep where near at hand the 
white stones dot the «reen expanse, and a nation 
guards their sleep, peaceful, quiet, glorious." while 
*ome of our brave comrades sleep uncomned and un- 
known, even where they fell " 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 



General Halleck's Letter to General Grant— 
"Little Rock" on the Colors— Order of the 
Transports — Major Hutchinson's Re- 
ports OF TUPALO AND OLD TOWN 

Creek — Colonel Eberhart's Re- 
port of Battle of Nashville- 
Story of a Teamster — How 
General Sherman Han- 
dled a Rebel Mule. 

It seemed hardly practicable to insert various 
orders relating 1 to the Regiment in connectiou with 
the dates of their occurrence without in some mea- 
sure breaking the continuity of the story as told by 
Sergeant Boyd in the six preceding chapters. Some 
of these may now find a place. 

Many of the comrades have wondered, no doubt, 
why the Regiment should have been so long divided, 
and the Detachments kept in different Departments. 
It may be stated that during the entire year 1863 no 
supposed opportunity of bringing the Detachments 
together was permitted to pass without an effort to- 
ward that end. Appeal after appeal was made to the 
Generals in command of the Departments. Major 
Eberhart fully sympathized with the members of the 
four companies in the desire to reach the regimental 
head quarters, have an opportunity to do service and 
make a record together. Colonel Scott spared no 



350 THIltTY SKUUND liNGIMENT 

pains to bring this about, at the risk of being regard 
ed as wearisome and discontented. At last the union 
was accomplished under the following order from 
the General-in-Chief to General Grant. Perhaps the 
final effort of our Senators and Members of Congress 
had in this matter more influence than any considera- 
tion of the rights of the soldiers or the best interests 
of the service! The following is General Halleck's 
letter: — 

January I'd, 18(>4, 
Major General Grant, Chattanooga. 

General: — Complaints have been received from 
the Thirty second Iowa and other regiments that 
they have been divided and that parts of the same 
regiment are now serving in different departments. 
It is presumed that this resulted from the exigencies 
of the service during the past year and was probably 
at the time unavoidable. It should, however, be 
remedied as promptly as possible by uniting in the 
same military department the regiments so divided. 
For example, six companies of the Thirty-second 
Iowa was reported at Columbus, Union City, and Is- 
land No. lo, and four companies at Little Rock, Ark., 
The entire regiment should either be sent to Arkan- 
sas or the four companies there sent to the Depart- 
ment of the Tennessee. As members of Congress 
from the districts and States in which the regiments 
are raised are urgent in their protest against such 
division, it is hoped that you will give the matter 
your early attention. 

Very respecttfully,your obedient servant, 

H. W. HALLECK, 

Genera I- in Gh ief. 



The following extract from orders issued by 
General Steele needs no explanation or comment: - 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 351 

General Orders, I Hdqrs. Army of Ark., 

No. 7. \ Little Rock, Ark., Jan. 26.1864. 

I. At a board of commissioned officers which 
convened at Little Rock, Ark., pursuant to Special 
Orders, No. 14. current series, from these headquar- 
ters, to name the number and names of regiments, 
battalions, and detachments belonging to the Army 
of Arkansas entitled to have "Little Rock" inscrib- 
ed on their banners. 

The following are the numbers and names: — 

Thirty -second Iowa Infantry 
(four companies.) * * 



For the purpose of refreshing the memory after 
the lapse of more than a third of a century, the fol- 
lowing order for the control of the Transports con- 
veying General Smith's 10.000 troops from Vicks- 
burg to the mouth of Red River is inserted. Few 
who witnessed that procession can have forgotten its 
inspiring influences: — 

General Orders, [ Hdqrs.Red River Expedition. 
No. 3. \ Vicksburg, Miss., March 10,1864. 

The Red River expedition will leave Vicksburg 
to-day at about 3 p. m. The signal for getting up 
steam will be one gun from these headquarters one 
hour before starting. The signal for starting will be 
five whistles from these headquarters on steamer 
Clara Bell, to be repeated by the boats carrying divi- 
sion and brigade commanders. Upon the signal for 
starting being given, the boats will swing out into 
the stream, each general commanding leading his 
command, in the following order: First Division, 
Sixteenth Army Corps: Third Division, Sixteenth 
Army Corps; General Kilby Smith's division, Seven- 
teenth Army Corps; the boats moving in the order 
laid down in the inclosed list. 

The following signals are established for the 



352 THJKTY SECOND REGIMENT 

running of the boats during the expedition: For 
starting or hailing - , five whistles; for closing up, four 
whistles; for landing. three whistles. In landing, the 
divisions must be kept together. 

By order of Brig. General A. J.Smith. 

J. HOUGH, 
Assistant Adjutant- General. 

Tiiclosure 

First, Clara Bell: second. Des Moines; third, 
Mars, Forty-seventh Illinois; fourth. Hamilton. Thir- 
ty-third Missouri; fifth, Baltic, Fifth Minnesota and 
Thirty- fifth Iowa; sixth, Chouteau, Eighty-ninth In- 
diana. Ninth | Indiana] Battery; seventh. Adriatic, 
Fifty-eighth and One hundred and nineteenth Illinois; 
eighth, J. H. Lacy; ninth, Southwester, Thirty - 
second Towa; tenth. W. L. Ewing, Fourteenth Iowa, 
Third [Indiana] Battery: eleventh, Sioux City. Twen- 
ty-fourth Missouri; twelfth. Diadem. Twenty seventh 
Iowa; thirteenth. Tutt. One hundred and seventeenth 
Illinois; fourteenth. Liberty, Forty-ninth Illinois; 
fifteenth, Emerald, One hundred and seventy-eighth 
New York; sixteenth. Hastings; seventeenth, Auto- 
crat; eighteenth, Diana; nineteenth, Raine. 



In relation to the battles at Tupelo and Old 
Town Creek, Major Hutchinson made the following 
reports: — 

Reports of Maj. Jonathan Hutchinson, Thirty- 
second Iowa Infantry. 

Hdqrs.. Thirty second Iowa Infantky, 

La Grange, Tenn., July 21, 18H4. 

Sir: — In relation to the part taken by my com- 
mand in the action of the 14th instant, at Tupelo. 
Miss., I have the honor to report that at 6 a. m. I 
formed my command in line of battle, on the left of 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 353 

the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry. Shortly after I re- 
reived orders to change front, faced to the rear, 
throwing a line of skirmishers about 100 yards in ad- 
vance, covering the right and front of my line. The 
enemy having pressed our line in front (the Twenty- 
seventh Iowa and Twenty fourth Missouri Infantry,) 
we moved forward to its support, leaving the Four- 
teenth and Thirty-second Iowa Infantry on the line 
where first stationed, the enemy shelling us very se- 
verely. At 7:30 a. m., the enemy threatening our 
left, I received orders to move by the left flank 
across the Tupelo road, and form on the right of the 
Eleventh Missouri Infantry, the Fourteenth Iowa 
Infantry forming on my right. This order was exe- 
cuted under a heavy tire of artillery. At 8:30 a. m. I 
was ordered to rejoin my brigade, which was station- 
ed on the extreme right of the original line occupied 
by my command. At 5 p. m. I was ordered to the 
front, taking position on the extreme left of our line, 
and on the left of the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry. 
Skirmishers were thrown out, covering the front of 
my regiment. Considerable skirmishing was kept 
up along our line until dusk, when our main line was 
withdrawn to the rear. At 8 p. m. the skirmishers 
were partially driven from their position by an ad- 
vancing line of the enemy, when my regiment was 
ordered to form on its original positioti, occupied pre- 
viously at 5 p. m.. on the left of the Fourteenth Iowa 
Infantry, which it did under a galling tire of musket- 
ry, driving the enemy from his position in front of 
our line. We continued to hold the position until 
the morning of the 15th instant, when we were with- 
drawn, preparatory to marching. 

The officers and men conducted themselves in a 
creditable manner. I herewith inclose a list of cas- 
ualties. 

JONATHAN HUTCHINSON. 
Major, Commanding Thirty-second Iowa Infantry. 

Lieut, Wat. G. Donnan, 

Acting Assistant Adjutant- General, Second Brigade. 



354 thirty second regiment 

Headquarters Thirty-second Iowa Infantry. 
La Grange, Tenn., July 21, 18(54. 

Sir:- In relation to the part sustained by my 
command in the engagement at Old Town Creek on 
the 1 5th instant, I have the honor to report, that 
during the march between Tupelo and Old Town 
Creek my command was put in charge of part of the 
train, moving with them and going into camp at 4 p. 
m. on Old Town Creek. At 5 p. m.. the First Divi- 
sion having passed in advance, the enemy obtained 
possession of a position that commanded our camp. 
They planted a battery and immediately commenced 
shelling us. the shells striking with accuracy and 
precision. T was ordered to move out by the right 
flank, crossing Old Town Creek, formed in line of 
battle and moved forward, taking position on the 
right of the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry, who. in con- 
nection with the Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry, had 
charged the battel y and had taken position on the 
ridge, which position was held till the morning of 
the 16th instant, when we moved forward with the 
command. 

The officers and men conducted themselves with 
characteristic courage. 

JONATHAN HUTCHINSON, 

Major, < 'ommanding Thirty -second Regiment Iowa. Infantry 

Lieut. W. Ct.Donnan, 

Acting Assistant Adjutant- General, Second Brigade. 



Report of Lieut. Col. Gustavus A. Eberhart, 

Thirty-second Iowa Infanrty, of Operations 

December 15-16, 1864. 

Hdors. Thirty-second Iowa Infantry. 

In the Field, December 21, lSBJf. 

Lieutenant:— Of the part taken by the Thirty- 
second Iowa Infantry in the battle of the 15th and 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 355 

Kith instant, I have the honor to report as follows: 

At H a. m. on ihe 15th, in obedience to orders 
from brigade headquarters, I formed the regiment 
on the right of the brigade, with my left resting on 
the Fifty eighth Illinois Infantry. The regiment ad- 
vanced in line of battle for more than a mile, slowly 
wheeling to the left, conforming to the movement of 
the line on our right. From 11 a. m. until 1 p. m. we 
lay under artillery tire from a battery 1,000 yards in 
our front. When the works were carried by the 
forces in front we moved forward about one mile 
and a half, when we were ordered to go into camp 
for the night. The regiment was not brought into 
close action, and suffered no loss. 

On the morning of the 16th we were again on 
the right of the brigade, our right resting on the left 
of the First Division. The advance was ordered 
about 7 a. m.. the line wheeling to the right to con- 
front the enemy's works. When within about 1,200 
yards we came in full view of the enemy, drawing 
upon us a brisk tire from their battery, under which 
the men moved forward with commendable coolness. 
The First Division contracting in order to form two 
lines we were thrown by the flank to the right about 
half a mile. At this point we lay under tire of the 
enemy's artillery for about five hours. At 3:30 p. m. 
tie right of the First Division carried the left of the 
enemy's works; we then moved forward at a double- 
quick over an open field, under a severe fire from ar- 
tillery and musketry, and in a few minutes gained 
the intrenchments, capturing about 50 prisoners and 
5 pieces of artillery. Some of the artillerists were 
killed as they were leaving the guns. Private Wm. 
May. of Company H. dashed forward and captured 
-the battery guidon. The regiment moved forward in 
pursuit, gathering a few prisoners, until we reached 
the base of the mountain, when we received orders 
to halt. At dark, the battle being over, we were or- 
dered into camp near the mountain. 

Too much cannot be said in praise of the conduct 
of the officers and men under the heavy fire during 
the charge; every one moved forward with a deter- 
mination to carry the works. 



356 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Where all behaved so creditably it is a delicate 
matter to make particular mention of persons, but I 
presume no exceptions will be taken when I speak of 
Lieut. W. L. Carpenter acting regimental adjutant, 
who was, as usual, conspicuous for his brave and 
gallant conduct in the action, and was among the 
first over the rebel works. Also, Capt. Theodore De 
Tar. commanding Company D, who, after pursuing 
the enemy to the mountain, was wounded in the right 
ankle, making an amputation necessary This will 
cause the loss to the regiment of an officer who has 
always been esteemed tor his excellent qualities as an 
officer and a gentleman. First Sergeant W. Albauy;h, 
Company C. who was killed almost instantly by a 
minie ball, was one of our best non-commissioned 
officers, and w 7 as much loved by his company as an 
officer and comrade. They mourn his loss deeply. 
My thanks are due Maj. Jonathan Hutchinson for his 
assistance during the action. 

I cannot refrain from mentioning Color Sergeant 
A. J. Elli.-, of Company G. who carried the standard. 
Although once thrown to the ground by a glancing 
shot he refused logive the standard to any one else, 
but made his way forward and was one of the first 
over the works. Corporal Bell, of Company G, who 
bore the regimental colors, was noticed for his brav- 
ery in action. 

I send herewith a list of casualties in the regi- 
ment, which is light, only because the artillery was 
aimed too high, and the infantry intimidated by our 
rapid firing as we advanced. 

Very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant. 

G. A. EBERHART. 
Lieutenant- < 'olonel, Commanding Regiment. 

Lieut. W. G. Donnan, 

Acting Assistant Adjutant -General. 



The following War Reminiscences serve to illus- 
trate other events than those to which they immedi- 
ately refer, and are worthy the space they occupy. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 357 

A Teamster's Story. 

Charles A. Clark, Company C, now of Fairbury, 
Nebraska, served with the Company until February, 
18H4. when he was detailed as teamster. His first 
service in that line was handling six mules and a 
wagon, hauling shells for a Battery. He went 
through the expedition to Meridian in that duty. 

He missed the Red River campaign, as most of 
our train was then left in the rear, but came into 
active service again on the raid to Tupelo. Of that 
he says: — 

"That was a hot time. While going out our 
driving was mostly done in the night. The day be- 
fore we reached Tupelo our train was attacked. 
There was quite a skirmish. There was not much 
fun in holding a team, and being shot at, with no 
chance to shoot back, or to get out. But when the 
way was cleared we got away without having orders 
to move given more than once. 

The day of the fight I was sent on the field with 
a load of shells. When I reached the reserve line 
my guide led me to the left, where 1 was soon the 
target for a rebel's gun, then another, and to the 
lively tune they played 1 drove six mules on the run 
through places where I do not believe I could now 
drive two horses on a walk. We went over fences, 
through tree tops, timber and fields of corn, and 
reached the Battery, when the Captain called out — 
•'Ho, there! Where in h — 1 are you going?" I an- 
swered that I was told by the ordnance officer to fol- 
low my guide, and that I had done so. He said — "1 

suppose you would follow him to h 1." I told him 

expected I would, if he had gone on through. He 



358 THIRTY SKCOND KKGIMKNT 

then ordered me to turn back and drive to the lee 
side of a cabin and be unloaded, and you can bet I 
was not long in obeying that order. 

The battle was then nearly over, and I was or- 
dered to haul wounded men off the field. I never 
want to do that job again. I would be shelled by six 
guns rather than haul wounded men. 

The next day a rebel in the dress of a Federal Col- 
onel gave the wagon master orders to park the train 
in a field about a mile before we got to Old Town 
Creek, which would soon have been done had not our 
quarter master come along and showed us three big 
rebel guns looking at us from a high hill, and making 
ready to play Dixie. We did not wait for the music 
to start, but waltzed out before it began. That was 
the nearest our train ever came to a regular stam- 
pede. 

I only saw the 32nd Iowa once during that cam- 
paign. 



I was sick on the Oxford campaign, hardly able 
to stand long enough to string out my team, but I 
dreaded the hospital, and worried through. On the 
return, near the Hatchie, a drunken Lieutenant came 
along and scared my mules, when J was hitching up. 
I respectfully asked him to go away. He became 
angry, and threatened to do me up. but as became 
for me he staggered against my off-wheel mule, and 
she laid him out. I got started and soon overtook 
the train. I again saw the Lieutenant, stagger up to 
an ambulance and order Corporal John La Bane 
out, and take the vacant place. At the risk" of pun- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 359 

ishment for myself I induced the corporal to ride in 
my wagon. 

One evening- Col. Shaw had a nice bonfire of cot- 
ton, bed quilts, and other things picked up on the ex- 
pedition. Cyrus Shaffer's wagon box was full of cot- 
ton, on which some sick men were riding. One of 
them, Sergeant Alexander, said the men were too 
sick to move. The Colonel ordered Cyrus to drive 
on, and at Memphis he sold his cotton for sixty dol- 
lar's. *' 



Clark's story includes the campaign in Missouri, 
the Nashville campaign, the removal to Eastport, to 
the plains and mud of Chalmette, across the Gulf, 
the Mobile campaign, and the trip to Montgomery, 
where he was reduced to the grade of Wagon master, 
with better pay and less hard work, until his train 
was turned over, leaving him nothing to do but eat 
blackberries till he was mustered out. 



General Sherman and the Mule. 

Comrade Charles N. Thomas, Company G, now a 
citizen of Albion, Iowa, relates that when the four 
companies were camped at Big Black river, awaiting 
the return of the six companies from the expedition 
to Meridiau. about March 1st. 1864, he was detailed 
to assist in loading a train with captured mules. He 
tells this incident:-- 

v, The business went smoothly enough until we 
reached a frisky young mule that concluded he would 



360 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

not enter the car. While we were discussing: the 
case with him a man in citizen's dress was passing, 
and paused to hear the arguments. Seeing that the 
mule was getting rather the better of us the citizen 
said: — "That mule is a Reb. Let me show you how 
to load him." Under his instructions we got a rope 
about fifteen feet long; three men took hold of each 
end. and Mr. Citizen took the middle. Another man 
held Ihe mule's head toward the door of the car. 
Thus equipped we moved on the enemy's works, the 
citizen holding the rope so it would not touch the 
mule till the proper moment; and when that time 
came he ordered an advance, toe k the tail of the 
mule in one hand, adjusted the rope with the other, 
and the procession entered the car. 

Without further remark Mr. Citizen walked away, 
leaving with us the impression that he was not so 
much of a fool as we had taken him to be. About 
this time an officer came along and inquired what had 
interested General Sherman. The fact was that the 
successful campaign against that mule was concluded 
under the personal direction of the distinguished sol- 
dier '"' 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



The Rebel Prison. 

The story of the Great War is not complete if 
the sufferings and hardships of those who were so 
unfortunate as to fall alive into the hands of the 
enemy should be entirely omitted. There were not 
many of the comrades of the 32nd Iowa who had this 
experience. Some of those who were captured were 
among our bravest and best men, and have given 
truthful and interesting accounts of what they suf- 
fered, and somewhat in detail incidents connected 
with their escape from bondage by traversing many 
miles of dangerous territory. Among those who en- 
dured and braved these hardships and dangers, and 
who have heretofore told the story of their imprison- 
ment, may be named Sergeant Jewett of Company 
D; Corporal D. W. Robbins, of, the same Company; 
Sergeant W. H. Guy. of Company E; Lt. W. A. Fal- 
las, of Company K; and I. A. Packard, of Company 
A. 

Fallas and Guy escaped from their guards at 
Mansfield, and joined the Regiment again at Grand 
Ecore. Robbins was confined at Tyler, Texas, un- 
til April 17th. 18H5, (more than a year,) when with 
many others he was exchanged. 

The story of Packard, as told by himself, is giv- 
en herein. It was published in May, L886. in the 
Grand Army Advocate, and is as follows: — 

"In the spring of 1864.1 was unfortunate in form- 
ing one of the command of General Banks, of Red 
River notoriety. I was captured in the battle at 



802 THIRTY SKCOND KKGIMK'NT 

Pleasant Hill, with many other comrades, and imme- 
diately hustled through the rebel lines to the rear. I 
had thought we had pretty hard fare in our army, 
but now I was to know something of what hard fare 
really was. We were taken to Mansfield, and incar- 
cerated in the court house with orders that if a man 
showed himself at the window he would get shot. 
One of the boys inadvertantly exposed himself and 
immediately got a severe wound. This was the sig- 
nal for the boys to begin to impost- on the guards, by 
putting hats on sticks to draw their tire and then yell 
at them in derision. This sport was indulged in un- 
til the rebel officers came in and said if it were not 
stopped, someone would be punished. The battle of 
Pleasant Hill was fought on Saturday, and on the 
next Tuesday morning we got our first bite of grub. 
It consisted of small pieces of corn bread, about the 
size of an ordinary piece of cake, and about two bites 
of salt beef, so salty as to almost blister the skin 
from the moui h. 

On the next Thursday, we were marched from 
our quarters and informed that we were to go to 
Tyler, Texas. I will give a few incidents of the 
march, showing the ignorance, brutaliiy and hate of 
the yanks indulged in by the rebels. We passed but 
one school house, and the school marm must let out 
the scholars to see the yanks pass. There they 
stood all in a row, mouth agape. One little chap 
says "Why, I don't see any horns." Another "Why 
they look just like we-uns does." Some of our boys 
were sick and unable to travel; they put ropes about 
their necks, tied them to the pommel of their saddles. 
and then when they were not able to stand any long- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 



563 



er, they were dragged by the neck. An old planter 
was passing us one day and one of the boys called 
Out. ••Uncle, how far is it to Tyler?" "Go on, go 

on you yankee son of-a , don't speak to me." At 

last foot sore and weary, we came in sight of our 
prison pen; what a prospect! No shelter of any de- 
scription. The pea was a spot of land enclosed by 
standing on end logs set in a trench, and then tilled 
with earth. The thought struck me as I passed 
through the gate, shall I ever go out alive? Soon 
after entering the prison, I was taken sick with fever 
and ague, and to make it worse it began to rain and 
rained every day for two weeks. The only covering 
possessed by myself and comrades, (or bunkmates 
nil her) was an old cotton blanket; and we did not lie 
down without lying in mud and water. When we 
got fairly settled and divided up into squads and regi- 
ments, our rations one and one half pints of corn meal 
per day and three fourths of a pound of beef. 

By the first of July we began to resemble a set 
of scarecrows, rags fluttering in the wind, bones al- 
most projecting from the skin. Our death list began 
to assume fearful proportions; comrades lying about 
and dying, without as much attention as our hogs 
got at home, for they generally have straw for a bed 

and plenty to eat. 

Soon ">ifter we entered the prison, a small dump 

cart came in to remove the filth from the camp; it 

was driven by a negro, and a reb sent to guard it. 

Some of the boys would entice the guard off to one 

side to trade, a couple of the boys would be all ready, 

jump into the cart and be covered with the debris by 

their comrades, when loaded the negro wouldcall to 

the guard to accompany him to the gate, where guard 



364 THIKTY SECOND REGIMENT 

would stop and the negro would proceed with his 
load about a quarter of a mile into a hollow, where 
he would dump it and return for some more yanks. 

About one hundred and fifty got out in this way 
before the rebels discovered it. Nearly all were 
brought back by the rebs, caught by the hounds, 
when they would punish them by tying them by the 
thumbs and various other ways cruel in the extreme. 
When it began to get cooler weather, in the fall, I be- 
gan to think of escape. 

A number of tunnels had been dug under the 
stockade, and just as they were completed some of 
our men would turn traitor and disclose their locality 
to the rebels. The first one that turned traitor, the 
rebs did not take him from the stockade immediately, 
and when they came to look for him, he was not to 
be found. Only one tunnel was made a success of, 
and from that one twenty -seven men made their es- 
cape. The first of October I was appointed by the 
commander of the prison to issue meat to my fellow 
prisoners; for this service I was to get six extra ra- 
tions. I then weighed 145 pounds. About this time 
a lieutenant of our- regiment who was a surgeon was 
appointed chief surgeon at our hospital; through his 
influence six of our regiment per day were to go out- 
side on parole of honor, the forfeiture of the parole 
was death. 

We were allowed to go anywhere within one 
mile of* the stockade. We now began to see better 
times; carried logs from this timber and built us log 
huts, and had plenty of fuel to burn, also went into 
the fields and pulled grass foe our beds. 1 now be 
gan to save up food for my extra rations, in anticipa- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 365 

tion of my escape. No opportunity offering, we form- 
ed a party and began a tunnel in a little cave or dug- 
out, occupied by a couple of New Yorkers. We work- 
ed at this tunnel until we had proceeded 100 feet and 
were directly under the stockade. 




T. A. Packard. 

The work on this cost us one month's hard labor. 
The New Yorkers whose dugout we had started in, 
gave information to the rebs that lead to its discov- 
ery. 

It was now winter and the prison presented a de- 
cidedly better appearance than in the summer, but a 



•! r C) THIRTY SECOND REGIMEN T 

little too airy for winter. Our prison now presented 
quite a busy spectacle; there were seven turning' 
lathes, with these they made combs, rings, chessmen 
and various other articles, these they bartered with 
the rebels, principally for something to eat. 

The location of our regiment was in the extreme 
corner of the stockade during the summer. One 
night after I had lain down to rest three of my com- 
rades came and sat down close by and began to talk 
of a sermon they had just listened to, when suddenly 
a gun cracked and I heard the whistle of the bullet 
over my head, one of these men jumped to his feet 
with the exclamation, "My God! I am shot!" 

He died before morning, and the murderer got a 
furlough home and a promotion to corporal, for kill- 
ing him. At another time I saw one of the guard 
draw up his gun and shoot a man who was walking 
thirty feet inside the dead line. L\\ the latter part of 
the summer and the fore part of the fall, our prison 
became extremely filthy ; the ground was full of gray- 
backs and maggots. After lying on our blankets 
overnight, take them up and you could scrape up a 
double handful of maggots under them. 

After the escape of the prisoners by the dump 

cart, they allowed us no means of cleaning up. In 

the winter James Howard, of company E, and D. S. 

Jewett of company D, (both of my regiment) made 

an agreement that if possible we would make our es 

cape together. To make our arrangements fores 

cape plain to the reader, I will have to make some 

explanations here, for you will not see the drift of it 

later. 

Our hospital was on the out side of the stockade. 
on a hillside commanding: a view of the whole interi- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 307 

or of the prison. 

The nurses attending the sick in the hospital 
were on parole of honor; and only three guards were 
detailed per day to see that everything went straight 
at the hospital. The nurses carried their own wood 
from the timber, about one-fourth of a mile distant. 
They had roll call at. sunrise in the morning, and 
they were not molested after that for the day unless 
something out of the ordinary routine occurred. We 
decided in the event of our escape to strike for Little 
Rock. Arkansas; also that w 7 e would travel after at- 
taining a goodly distance from prison as rebel sol- 
diers on furlough. 

We got acquainted with what we called a "moun- 
tain Fed." or in other words an Arkansas Union 
man. that lived when at home in the Ozark mountains; 
from him we got directions to three Union men di- 
rectly on our route. The first of these being his 
brother inlaw. 

We also agreed that if one by any accident 
should get separated from the other two, they were 
to stop right there and give him a reasonable time to 
return to his comrades. 

After the failure of our tunnel scheme we were al- 
most disheartened. But after a time engaged in other 
projects for escape only to be disappointed; until the 
night of April 20th, 18b5. D. S. Jewett, then came 
running into the shanty exclaiming "Get your things 
boys we have a chance for escape." I will here ex- 
plain that some of the guards were conscripts, and 
some of these were Uuion men. The rebel officers 
knew who nearly all of these men were, and would 
only put one of them in a place with men that they 



368 TH I RIY SECOND REGIMENT 

knew to be genuine rebels between. But this night 
they got two on adjoining posts, and they had prom- 
ised D. S. Jewett to let us over the stockade. After- 
snatching up our provisions that I might have saved 
from extra rations, ready at all times, we bade our 
comrades a hearty good-bye and smarted for liberty 
and God's country. 

With the help of our comrades we scrambled 
over the stockade and were free. I neglected to 
state when speaking of our arrangements for escape 
that we were to go to the hospital and stop until the 
next night, in order to get an early start in the even- 
ing and baffle the hounds which would be put on our 
trail ihe morning after learning of our flight. 

In accordance with programme we went direct 
to the hospital and were told that we had better go 
to the woods for the ni^ht. as they had just had roll- 
call, and might have it auaiu. 

So we went to the edge of the timber and camp- 
ed for the remainder of the night. 

Immediately after roll-call at the hospital, and 
before roll-call in the stockade, we shouldered a stick 
of wood and started for the hospital, as though we 
were some of the nurses after fuel. 

We were eager to watch the roll-call in the stock- 
ade, as there were thirty -two besides ourselves who 
made their escape at the same time we did. 

There were some missing at the first roll-call. and 

the ward masters were sent back for a second, and 

still not right, they were sent back for a third. They 

were not satisfied that some of the - - Yankees were 
gone. 

"Now for some sport! Hurrah boys, tret out the 

hounds, and we will soon catch those infernal Yan- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 369 

kees." 

We stood and watched them as they started to 
catch us, and were talking to the rebels at the time. 
We lounged around the hospital all day, and along 
in the afternoon they began to bring back our com- 
rades who had made their escape at the same time 
we did, until they had caught fifteen. 

As soon as it was fairly dark we bade our com- 
rades at the hospital good-bye, and, with a God speed 
and a ••hope you'll have good luck boys" from them, 
we started for Yankee land. 

We guided our course by the north star, travel- 
ing very fast so as to get as far as possible from the 
stockade the first night. At the first peep of day we 
crawled into some thick brush for concealment. We 
laid our weary limbs down to rest and had only got 
fairly settled when we heard a rooster crow so start 
lingly near, as to make us jump to our* feet in a hurry 
and seek more distant quarters. 

We remained there through the day without be- 
ing disturbed, and resumed our march at early dusk. 
About midnight we came to the Sabine river, which 
was very high. 

Howard was a very poor swimmer; and before we 
started from the prison made us agree to help him 
over the streams. We hunted about for something 
to make a raft, and not finding anything suitable we 
concluded to wait for daylight. 

The next morning we resumed our search for 
materials to make a raft, and after hunting along the 
bank for about a mile down stream, found some old 
plank, apparently from some bridge. 

We constructed our raft and were about to cross, 



370 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

when the baying of the hounds (so familiar of late) 
was wafted to our ears from the rear. We listened 
until satisfied they were on our trail, when Howard 
leaped into the water and struck for the opposite 
shore as though a legion of devils were after him. 

Jevvett said: 

'•Packard, you follow him and help him if he 
needs it, and I will bring the raft with our clothes.'' 

Need help? I guess not! I am a pretty good 
swimmer, and I had all I could do to keep up with 
him. I tell you the loud mouthing of those hounds 
in the rear was a pretty good spur. 

We got across all right, turned our raft adrift, 
and laid in the brush to wait and see if the hounds 
crossed the river, intending if they did to take to the 
water. Fortunately for us they did not cross and we 
were safe from them for the time being. We stopped 
in the vicinity until night when we again took up 
our line of march. We traveled nights, resting days, 
without anything more worthy of note occurring un- 
til the fifth day oat, and it behooved us to look for 
some grub,. 

We camped that night in the brush by the side 
of a large plantation; Jewett said: "When the ne- 
groes go to work, I will see if we cannot get some 
food of them." 

After the negroes went to work Jewett crawled 
up to the fence and accosting a boy plowing corn 
asked him if he could get some food of him, telling 
him we were escaped prisoners. 

The boy after thinking a moment said that he 
would like to give us "sutFin to eat awful well, massa, 
but I don't see how I uit it. Dar am bout 150 black 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 371 

folks oa dis place, and dey gits ter grub ebery day; 
some of detn liab a little ahead, put de most ob dem 
eats it as fast as dey gits it." 

To cut the conversation short, he said there was 
danger of our being captured if he tried to get us any 
food; so we gave it up for that time. 

We had now one little cracker, or a hardtack per 
man; that we ate for supper. That night we traveled 
as usual, and stopped for the day by the side of a 
wheal field with a cotton gin in the center. 

At sunrise the negroes came out to work at plow T - 
ing corn in the field adjoining. It was now Howard's 
turn to try for some grub. So in pursuance of this 
object, he stealthily crawled along the division fence, 
to where the negro was plowing. When they came 
up and turned their mules about Howard spoke to 
1 hem. 

The negroes, with the exclamation of "Good 
Lord, what's dat," jumped as though shot. Quieting 
their fears, he told them what he was after. 

They said we havn't time to talk, but "You come 
to dat old cotton gin at moonrise to night, and we 
fetch you suffin to cat, suah. If we stay here long 
the old overseer will be here mighty quick." 

We waited patiently as we could without any- 
thing to eat until nightfall, and then we went to the 
old cotton-gin, to wait the appearance of our sable 
friends. 

The moon rose and ascended upward and our 
friends failed to make their appearance. We were 
beginning to despair of getting anything to eat that 
night, when the welcome sound of a whistle greeted 
our ears. They soon cam* 1 to view bearing a jug of 



872 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

butter milk, corn bread, boiled bacon and some bacon 
uncooked. 

We fell upon the viands with a relish begotten 
by extreme hunger. After eating and chatting 
awhile, they informed us that we had a large swamp 
to cross, and if we wished they would go with us and 
show us a road. 

We thankfully accepted their offer and accom- 
panied them to their cabins. They gave us some 
oatmeal and a little more bacon, and with spirits re- 
vived and with stomachs replenished we started forth. 
Our sable friends kept us company two and a half 
miles, with good' wishes for on r ultimate escape, by 
them, and thanks for their assistance, we parted 
company. We traveled on as usual until the ninth 
day out, when our provisions again failed us and we 
must again look for grub. We traveled for two 
nights more without finding any chance to get any 
food, except berries we could gather. 

The eleventh day out it rained all day; footsore, 
hungry, wet and cold we made up our mind we were 
going to have something to eat, or make a big effort 
at any rate. 

So just before sundown we started to find a road 
and had not far to go until we came to one; following 
it about a mile we came to one of those big double 
houses, with a portico between, so common in the 
south. 

As we came up to the house there was a young 
white woman with a milk pail on her arm. putting 
the cow in the yard for the night. 

Jewett said. "Madam, what is the nearest town 
on this road?"' She answered, "Mt. Pleasant."' 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 373 

"How far is it?"' "Five miles." 

She never turned her head to look at us. With 
thanks for her information we passed on. 

Af'ier getting out of ear shot Howard said, "Did 
you see any niggers about?" "No" said Howard, I be- 
lieve they are a Union family." 

"I believe they are myself," said Jewett. 

"Well." said I "If you think they are let us pick 
out a good place to camp, and Jewett go to the house 
and stop as a rebel soldier on furlough.'' 

Find out their sentiments, and if they are Union, 
get some food. 

"Oh, no," said Jewett. "This is too risky. Let 
us stop here and try to steal some." 

I then asked Howard if he would attempt it. And 
after some little study he thought it too hazardous. 

"Well," said I. "if you wait forme I will attempt 
it." They both agreed. 

So we turned from the road into the timber, and 
picked out a camping place so that I could find them 
again and changing hat and coat, I made a detour 
and came up to the house from the opposite direc- 
tion. It was raining hard all this time. 

As I came up to the house there was on old lady 
standing in the door. "Madam," said I; "can you 
keep a poor soldier over night?" 

Old lady — "Well, we are not in the habit of 
keeping folks, [slight hesitation] I would not turn a 
dog off such a night as this. Come in." 

Accepting this invitation, I stepped into the 
cheerful warmth of an open fireplace. The old lady 
began to quiz me immediately, asking for all sorts of 
information; where I had come from, where I was go- 



374 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

ing to, when I thought the war would end, which side 
I thought would whip, and many others loo numerous 
to mention. 

While we were talking (and no appearance of 
supper, and that was what interested me the most at 
that time.) the old gent came in; he civilly bade me 
good evening, and after some little conversation, in 
which his wife informed him that 1 was a soldier 
stopping for the night, and the old gent began to 
question me, following nearly the same line of ques- 
tions as the old lady. In conversation with the old 
gent I was so eager to learn his sentiments as to be- 
come incautious, and in speaking of the Union forces 
used the pronoun us, or we. [ noticed the oversight 
immediately and watched to note its effects on the 
old folks. 

They did not seem to notice it but I could not 
say as much for the other members of the family, as 
they sat behind me. I noticed the old gent sat sus- 
piciously near a loaded rifle. 

I was more cautious after the slip of the tongue. 
About eight o'clock in the evening we had supper, 
and never did minutes seem so long to any poor mor- 
tal as to me while it was in preparation. 

'•Packard," says Howard, on leaving them, "If 
you get anything to eat, slip something into your 
pocket, and bring it to us tonight if possible."' So at 
the supper table I watched my opportunity to slip 
some food unseen, into my pocket, but failed to do so. 
as only the old folks and I ate at the first table, and 
his daughter and daughter in law waited upon the 
table, and one or the other of them was watching the 



IOVVa VOLUNTEERS 37J 

table all the time. 

I ate as long as the other folks and for some time 
a tier, and then did not have near enough, but forced 
myself to stop as they began to regard me with won- 
der on account of my extraordinary voracity. 

About nine o'clock they began to speak of going 
to bed. I put on my shoes (which I had taken off' to 
dry my stockings) and 1 scud for the boys as fast as 
th(-> darkness and density of the timber would permit 
of. 1 went as near as I could where I had left them 
and softly called them by name; no answer. I called 
again, and still the same result. I then went far- 
ther and called but got no answer." 

I then began to think I was deserted I called 
again as loud as I dared, and got a faint answer from 
a distance. I followed the sound and found my com- 
panions ensconced under a fallen tree that partially 
protected them from the storm. 

The first question that came was, have you any- 
thing for us to eat? I was forced to answer in the 
negative. The next question was, are they Union 
people? I replied, "I can't say for certain, but think 
they are. and in the morning will get the old man 
out of doors and away from that rifle and I will find 
out whether he is a Union man or not. 

Jewett says: "For pity's sake come to us as soon 
as you can, as we are nearly starved." I promised 
compliance, and went to the house and went to bed, 
pulling off my shirt as well as other clothing, as by 
this time our clothing had become pretty well seeded 
with gray backs. I took a sweet night's rest and arose 
as early in the morning as any of the family. 

I again tried to "pump" the old man and learn 



876 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

his sentiments, but could get him to say nothing for 
or against either side. I gave up the job until after 
breakfast, which we did not get until about eight 
o'clock. 

In conversation the night before I had learned 
the names of the different ferries on the Red river, 
and to cross on the one I said I wished to. The old 
man said I would have to take a different route and 
he would go and show me a path leading to it, that 
would shorten the distance. 

As this was just what I wanted I assented and 
we started forth. After getting a little distance 
from the house the old gent's little grandchild came 
running after us with a couple of biscuits in her 
hand, saying. "Ma says put them in your pocket for 
lunch." 

T accepted them and we passed on into the tim- 
ber out of sight of the house. Turning square about, 
I said: "-old man I suppose you think 1 am a rebel 
soldier do you not?'' '"Why yes you said you was."' 
'Well.' said I, "I am not; I am a Union soldier trying 
to make my escape from the rebels, and I believe 
you to be a Union man. and if you are. now is the 
time to show it." 

l, Ah, ha!" said he, ''you can't fool me that way." 
I replied, "I was fooling you last night, but I am tell- 
ing you the truth now." After some further conver- 
sation, in which I failed to convince him that I was 
what I claimed to be, I said, "Old man do I talk like 
a southern many" 

He answered. "No. but you said last night that 
your former home was in Missouri, and 1 thought 
that was the reason you talked different from us." 



rOW A VOLUNTEERS. 6( t 

I answered, "My real home is in Iowa, and I have a 
couple of comrades out here in the brush that are 
nearly starved, having been without food for nearly 
three days, and if you are a Union man, and wish to 
help us. now is your time to say so." 

He looked me fully in the eye for nearly a minute, 
and finally said, "You look as if you were telling the 
truth and I will have to trust you, if I do get bit. I 
will now tell you why I was so suspicious of you. 
The rebs doubt my loyalty to their cause and sent a 
soldier to entrap me in precisely the same manner in 
which you have" come. I was nothing loth to express 
my sentiments and the result was the rebels had me 
arrested and I laid in jail at Mt. Pleasant for over 
three months, and I did not care for such an experi- 
ence again. Go and get your comrades, and if you 
are all right you will find me the same." 

I went to the hoys, and the first question was, 
"What luck r"' "Bully, they are Union to the back- 
bone." I then gave them the two biscuits and they 
said they were the sweetest morsels they had ever 
tasted. 

Alter washing at the brook we repaired to the 
house, and I tell you they got a good breakfast, and 
a great deal better one than I had. The old man 
asked me if I did not want some more breakfast, and 
I replied that I had had enough for that morning 
but had risen hungry from the table the night be- 
fore. 

His daughter said she had noticed my slip of the 
tongue last evening, but had thought it another plan 
to entrap her pa, and so let it pass as though not 
noticed We stopped there that day and the girls 



378 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

killed and cooked three chickens, made eight dried 
apple turnovers, cooked a lot of biscuits, and on our 
preparing for departure in the evening-, took us into 
the smoke house and told us to lake all the meat we 
could carry. 

The old gent accompanied us eight miles on our 
journey; he bade us adieu with many well-wishes for 
our ultimate escape. Let me say right here that as 
long as I shall live I shall never think of that family 
without heartfelt gratitude for their timely assist- 
ance. 

We had no more adventures worthy of note, un- 
til our arrival at Red river, which we reached about 
midnight. We decided, if possible, to try and find a 
skiff or canoe to cross in, as the river was very wide 
and full of alligators. 

After rambling up and down the river, waking 
up all the dogs along the stream, and meeting with 
no success we made a raft of dry logs, tied them to- 
gether with linn bark, and using the same for ropes. 
Howard mounted the raft with Jewett and myself as 
his aquatic steeds, we made a break tor the opposite 
shore just as daylight began to appear. 

We effected our crossing all right, Jewett so 
nearly exhausted as not to be able to climb the bank 
until rested. We laid by for the day and started as 
usual at night fall, soon after starting we heard a 
drum-beat immediately in front of us, and so near as 
to make us wonder if we had passed the pickets. 

We made a wide detour to avoid the camp. Af- 
ter traveling some time Jewett said. "What is the 
reason we don't find any roads?" We traveled all 
night without crossing anything in the shape of 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



379 



roads, except foot paths, and one of my comrades 
says, "Let us follow this path and see where it will 
lead to?" We agreed upon that, and soon came in 
sight of some Indian wigwams, A new light broke up- 
on us; we were in the Indian Territory, and we made 
up our minds that the best thing for us to do would 
be to get out of the Territory quickly as possible. 

In pursuance of this object we turned directly 
East, and decided to travel all day. We shortly 
came to an Indian hunting lodge, and in it was a rifle, 
a skillet for cooking and a bed of boughs. We 
hunted for amunition, intending if we found any to 
take the rifle; but did not succeed in finding any. 
About dark we came to a sluggish stream called the 
Ultima Thule; it looked decidedly porkerish, and hav- 
ing traveled for twenty -four hours steady, we agreed 
to camp for the night. 

I awoke with a feeling of oppression on my 
chest, as though a heavy weight was lying thereon 
and a suffocating perfume invaded my nostrils, that 
nearly stiffled me. I sprang to my feet casting the 
blanket, weight and all, from me with all the force at 
my command. 1 never shall know for certain, but 
suppose it was a snake lying on my breast; there was 
no more sleep for me that night. We crossed the 
stream all right in the morning, and continued our 
journey, crossing another very beautiful and rapid 
stream in the afternoon. 

After crossing this last stream we soon came to 
a couple of small log huts. We made inquiries here 
and learned that we were now in Arkansas, having 
just crossed the line. Our last meal had been raw ba- 
:-on. W^ found at these huts no one but females and 



880 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

children, one family living in each. 

After some conversation with them we conclud- 
ed that one of them was a Union woman, and so in- 
formed her who we were, and asked for something to 
eat. The woman replied. "It is a good thing you 
did not tell that other woman who you are as she 
would inform on you if she had a chance. My hus- 
band has gone into Texas after" corn, and I expect 
him home every hour; 1 have the last meal I have in 
the house baking, but I will divide with you, and give 
you half." We bade adieu to this friendly woman 
and going a short distance laid down to rest for a 
couple of hours, intending to travel again ihat night. 
We awoke about nine o'clock and again took up our 
line of march. After going two or three miles we 
came to a swamp, attempted to cross it, the moon 
and stars were obseured by clouds and left us with- 
out a guide; after splashing about in the mud and 
water, starting out the snakes by the score, and cross- 
ing a bayon on the same log twice, we concluded 
that we did not know which way to go, and so we got 
on Lop of a log and waited for daylight. As the first 
streaks of dawn tinged the east, we struck for dry 
land, and just at sunrise we were again on solid 
ground. 

We climbed a hill and stopped at a cabin, to beg 
some vituals. We found no one at home, and hunting 
about for some grub, found half a corn cake which 
weappropriated for our own use. The one solitary 
bed was tumbled and yet warm as though it had just 
been vacated. After getting our corn bread, we hid 
in the brush to eat. and consider what to do. as we 
were now in the vicinity of the first Union man that 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 38L 

we were directed to before leaving prison. 

After consultation we concluded to take the road, 
travel on our furloughs, and inquire for Mr. Whistle, 
(I use a fictitious name. ) We then boldly took to 
the road, find at the tirst house I went in and made 
inquiry. They did not know such a man, but it was 
a good long spell toParaclifta; she did not know how 
far. We then traveled some seven or eight miles, 
keeping in the timber most of the time. At last we 
came out upon a road that led through a lane between 
two fields. 

It now being Jewett's turn to make inquiry, he 
said that we had better pass around the field, through 
the timber and he would join us on the other side. 

We did as directed and had barely seated our- 
selves at the road, when Jewett came in sight with a 
rebel soldier. 

We hastily decided it would not do to talk any to 
Jewett unless he first spoke to us, as the rebel soldier 
might have him under arrest. As Jewett came along, 
he gave us a wink and said, "Good morning boys. 
Are you traveling?" We replied, "Yes sir,*' and 
he passed on as though he had never seen us before. 
In accordance with our agreement we selected a spot 
close by to await his appearance if not captured. 

We laid down and slept until about three o'clock, 
when we decided that he had had plenty of time to 
return to us. After some consultation Howard and 
I resolved to take to the road and travel as rebel sol- 
diers on a furlough. . Howard being a very quick- 
tempered, passionate man. said that I would have to 
do all of the talking, as he could not control his tem- 
per, and might betray us. I agreed, and with that 



382 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

understanding we took the road as rebels. At ihe 
iirst house we inquired for Mr. Whistle and were 
told that they did not know such a man; but it was 
about seven miles to Paraclifta. 

Jogging on again we caught up with a boy 
twelve years old; he said he knew where Mr. Whistle 
lived, and was going in sight of the house, which 
was just one-half mile north of Paraclifta. On ques- 
tioning the boy farther, we learned there was a body 
of rebel troops at Paraclifta, and they had a pack of 
blood hounds for catching negroes and deserters. 

W'e went to Mr. Whistle's house and seeing no 
men folks about, we inquired of the lady if Mr. 
Whistle was at home. She said, "No, that he had 
gone to mill," and invited us in. On entering the 
house we observed another lady. Bidding her good 
evening, we seated ourselves and believing every- 
thing to be all right, I told her who we were and that 
we had been directed to them by her brother, as be- 
ing good Union people and that they would help us 
on our way. What was my surprise when she ans- 
wered that we had been misinformed; that there was 
no better confederate woman in the south, and the 
only thing she ever had against her brother was that 
he was a Union man. 

Imagine our situation! We were now at the 
mercy of these two women and they had it in their 
power to send us back into bondage. After thinking 
a minute, I said: "Well madam, what are you going 
to do about it? You have us in your power." "I do 
not know what to do." she said; "You never harmed 
me that I know of, and T do not know that it would 
do me any good to report you to the confederates; on 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 383 

the other hand, if I do not, and the confederates find 
it out they would confiscate our property and proba- 
bly imprison us." "Have no fears as to that," said I, 
"if you will give us your promise not to report us I 
will give you our word of honor, as soldiers, that we 
will say nothing that can bring harm to you," 

After a moment's thought she replied; ''that as 
far as she was concerned [and she glanced at the 
other woman] she would give us the promise." I 
then turned to the other woman and asked if she 
would give us the same assurance; after some time 
spent in meditation, she gave us the coveted answer; 
and thanking them for their kindness, we bade them 
good evening, and took our departure. "By George, 
Packard."said Jim, "That was a close shave." "Yes," 
I replied, "and we may not be out of it yet." As it 
was now near dark, we decided to stop at the first 
house we came to. We had gone about a half mile 
when we came to a log house; on asking to stay over 
night, we were answered in the affirmative. 

The occupants consisted of a man and three girls, 
the latter from fifteen to eighteen years of age. The 
woman of the house immediately began a conversa- 
tion with us, and in the conversation professed some 
decidedly Union proclivities. The daughter instant- 
ly said we must not mind what mother said, as she is 
a little cracked on the war question. After this the 
man joined in the conversation and told us that he 
was a guerrilla, and then followed some stories of 
his of how many Union soldiers he had killed, shoot- 
ing them down from the bush; also of some they had 

captured and hung; of how they would beg for mercy, 
until our blood fairly boiled. 

Howard got so angry that he could keep still no 



)-584 THIRTY SECOND REOIMENT 

longer, (forgetting his agreement that I was to do 
the talking) tried to speak and in the attempt broke 
down; he was so mad his lips fairly quivered; the 
guerrilla regarded him with astonishment.and watch- 
ing him until I caught his eye I made a sign for him 
to keep still; he immediately subsided. I was so 
angry myself that I would have given every dollar I 
possessed if I could have killed him, with any hope 
of escape. Soon after expressing a wish to retire, 
he said we would have to sleep in an out-house, as 
they had no very good accommodations. After he 
had left us. Howard said: "Packard, let us get out of 
this I can't stand it." "No." I replied, "That would 
be just the way to get them after us; if we stay here 
quietly, and go about our business in the morning as 
though we were all right, we will have no 1 rouble; 
but if we should leave to-night ten chances to one if 
we don't have the hounds after us in the morning." 
The result was, we decided to stay; had a breakfast, 
and departed in the morning, feeling much refresh- 
ed. 

We journeyed on that day without any incident 
worthy of note, and in the evening were in the vicin- 
ity of the second man we were directed to, Mi-. Wal- 
ton. On making inquiry of a woman standing by the 
side of the road, she informed us that he was very 
sick, and not expected to live. I then asked her if 
she could keep us over night. She said that we 
could stop, and we passed on to her house, some dis- 
tance from the road. 

She did not appear to be very communicative, 
but we learned that her husband was in the rebel 
army and a captain of a company of Indians. We de- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 385 

parted in the morning - , having fared sumptuously on 
biscuit, sweet potatoes, and bacon. We jogged 
along until nearly noon, when on nearing a house to 
get a drink' of water, a woman standiug in the door 
watching us very attentively as we came up, made a 
sudden rush as though to clasp me in her arms. I 
backed off. and said, "Madam I guess you have made 
a mistake." She looked at me for a moment, and 
burst into tears. As soon as she could control her 
emotion she made an explanation. She thought I 
was her son. We jogged along that day and the 
next, when in the afternoon of the second day we got 
on the wrong road. Going to a house to make in- 
quiries, we found quite a party assembled there, as 
we came up to the house, quite a natty, spruce-look- 
ing sort. of a chap was trying to kiss a girl, and she 
was resisting [or pretending to] with all her strength. 
There were two girls and about half a dozen men. I 
speak of the skirls particularly, as we shall have more 
to do with them hereafter. 

We talked with the men for some little time; 
they directed us to the right road and we departed 
without learning whether they were soldiers or not. 
The next day we came in the vicinity of a camp of 
rebels. On stopping at a house to get a drink of 
water, we got into a conversation with one of the reb- 
els and he said they were Quantrell's men and that 
he belonged to them. The next day, being in the 
vicinity of the third man we made inquiries and 
easily found the place. On going to the house we saw 
a boy plowing with a mule; on asking where Mr. Ap- 
pleton was, he replied that he was not at home. Af- 
ter talking with him a little I asked him if he knew 



386 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Tom Whistle. 

He opened his eyes wide with surprise and said, 
"Yes! Where did you know him?" I grave an eva- 
sive answer as I was not yet, entirely satisfied wheth- 
er they were rebel or union. We had been caught 
once and did not propose to get caught in the same 
fix again. After talking a while longer I became 
satisfied that the boy was all right at any rate. I 
then told him who we were and that Whistle was in 
prison. He appeared to doubt, at first, but I finally 
convinced him that we were what we represented our- 
selves. He then told me tliHt they were suspected by 
the rebels of disloyalty to their cause and had to be 
very careful of what they did. 

"Mother." he said, "here are two union prison-, 
ers that were acquainted with Tom Whistle in the 
rebel prison." She i>ot as white as a sheet in an in- 
stant and gave him a look as much as to say, "Well, 
now, you have done it." "Oh, mother," he said, 
••you need not be frightened they are all right," 1 
now thought it time for me to say something. "Mad- 
am you can set your fears entirely at rest; we are 
just what we represent ourselves to be. escaped union 
prisoners, from the rebel prison in Texas, and were 
acquainted with Tom Whistle there, and were direct- 
ed by him to you as being union people, and that you 
would help us on our way." 

She was now entirely satisfied and said that they 
were Uuion and thought that our coming was some 
trick of the rebels to deceive them. Mi". Appleton 
would not be at home till late some time in the even- 
ing. 

We were eating supper when the old gentleman 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 387 

came in. He looked very much surprised to see a 
couple of strangers at the table. -'Father," the old 
lady said "these are a couple of union men from the 
rebel prison, they were acquainted with Tom down 
there, and he directed them to us. The old man 
looked in blank amazement first at her then at us. 

I saw that he was afraid that they were taken in 
by us and I proceeded to disarm his fears as soon as 
possible. After becoming convinced that we were 
really Union soldiers he became very cordial and said 
we were welcome and wanted to know what he could 
do for us. I told him we wanted a chance to rest a 
day or two, wash our clothes, and give the graybacks 
a hot bath. 

He agreed to this; made us welcome, and told us 
of two women who were going our road for sixty 
miles, with whom we could travel without being sus- 
pected. The women came along next day with three 
yoke of oxen. We joined them and went to their 
home, they being the two women mentioned before. 
Their families were loyal, the men hiding from con- 
scription. When we arrived the men came in from 
the brush and their caves in the rocks, brought their 
arms with them, and surplus guns for us. Desperate 
as the chances were we felt once more that we were 
men, and would stand or fall together. 

The night passed in quiet, and the next morning 
the captain of the band said that he would pilot us to 
a man who lived in the mountain about six miles dis- 
tant, and who would go with us to Little Rock, as he 
had been over the route many times. 

On arriving at the house, we were informed by 
his wife that we would find her husband in the brush 



38,8 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

by a small mountain stream in sight of the bouse, 
pointing - it out to us at the same time. 

We went to ihe place designated and found him 
at work cobbling his shoes; on talking the matter 
over with him, he said he could go with us and would 
start the next morning. During the day he ventured 
to go to the house m our company, saying that it was 
the first time he had been to the house in daylight 
for a long time; that the guerrillas had made several 
raids on his establishment and cleaned him out of al- 
most everything, not leaving then] scarcely a dish to 
eat from. 

At nearly night-fall we started for his cave, 
higher up in the mountains. On arriving there we 
found it to be a small natural cave, almost as impreg- 
nable as a fortress! A person could approach it but 
in one direction and only in single file. Can my 
readers appreciate the loyalty and devotion of these 
hardy mountaineers to the Union? Watched for by 
their enemies, who were greatly their superior in 
numbers; shot at from the bush, when least expect- 
ing it; scarcely daring to visit their families in the 
light of the clay; compelled to crawl to their own fire- 
sides in the dead of night, like a sheep-stealing dog! 

After a comfortable and quiet night of rest, we 
started for the highest part of the mountain intend- 
ing to take the dividing ridge, keeping as much as 
possible away from all roads of travel. 

Several times we saw bodies of men in the val- 
leys but could not tell who they were. The second 
day after leaving our guide's cave my shoes gave out 
completely and I was compelled to take it barefooted 
over the rocks and briars. The next day my feet 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 389 

were so full of cuts, bruises and briars that it was al- 
most impossible for me to travel. In this extremity 
I bethought me of my rebel hat. I cut it in two parts 
through the middle, and tied the pieces on my feet 
with strings. It was still very difficult for me to trav- 
el, but the hat was a great improvement. 

About twenty-five miles from Little Rock we left 
the mountain, and then came the tug of war. We 
were now to pass over the most dangerous part of 
our route; for the nearer we got to our lines the more 
danger there was. The last night out we camped 
about fifteen miles from our lines. No one who has 
never been in our position can realize with what anxi- 
ety we watched the passage of time, every mile 
bringing us nearer and increasing the danger; every 
nerve was on the strain, every sense alert to catch 
the slightest sound. 

At last we came in sight of the glorious old Stars 
and Stripes. Happy moment! We had often specula- 
ted on what our feelings would be when we should 
see the flag of our country again. We thought we 
should feel like shouting for joy! How different the 
reality. Neither one of us could speak; our emotions 
were too deep for words, we grasped each others 
hands in silence and thanked God in our hearts that 
our long imprisonment was ended. After passing 
the videttes, between them and the inside pickets we 
came to the Missouri regiment and learned on inquiry 
that major — — , one of our old prison comrades be- 
longed to that regiment. 

We here received the grateful news on first en- 
tering our lines that the war was over; Lee had sur- 



::«..u. 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



rendered. No more fighting for us, we were going 

home. 

That evening we learned that one of our com- 
pany was at the hospital. The next morning we 
called upon him and learned that Jewett [oar miss- 
ing comradej had passed through town two days pre- 
vious. I did not hear any more from him until I saw 
him at his house in Iowa, some years later, he then 

related the circumstances of 
our- separal ion. 

On goin^f to the house of 
Mr. Whistle, a rebel soldier 
that chanced to he at the 
house, made answer and said: 
"I know where he lives, am 
goin^f in sight of his house, 
and will show it to you." I 
thought if I recognized you he 
might suspect something, so I 
thought it best to pass right 
on and then return to you as 
we had agreed. 

So I went to Mr. Whistle*s 
found him at home and a union 
man. But Mr. Whistle says. 'I cannot help you any 
only to give you your dinner and directions on your 
way, as there is a woman visiting here to day and 
she is a rank rebel.'' Jewett, got his dinner and start- 
ed to return to us and got astray on another road. 
When discovering his mistake he returned to the 
forks of the road, and took the right road. We had 
passed on our way to Mr. Whistle's. 

He returned to where he had left us and ran 




IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



391 



around in the brush calling us by name. When as- 
sured that we had gone he said that if it would have 
done any good he would have sat down and cried like 
a baby. Going to the house where he had found the 
rebel soldier, he stopped over night, and the next 
morning struck out for Little Rock alone. 

In his wanderings he got on the road to Ft.Smith, 
was captured by the guerrillas, and condemned to be 
hung without judge or jury. In this extremity the 
lieutenant of the band took him to one side and asked 
him what our government would do with them if they 
should go in, give themselves up and take the oath 
of allegiance Jewett replied, "They won't do any- 
thing, you could go to your home and be all right." 
The other said, -'If I could believe that I should be 
tempted to go in with you." 

Jewett who was pleading for dear life, used all 
the arts of persuasion of which he was capable, and 
finally convinced him to the extent that he conserved 
to go in with him and take the oath of allegiance. 
On making the proposal to his men they would not 
consent, and insisted on hanging Jewett at once. 

The lieutenant expostulated with them, but find- 
ing they were determined to hang him, and all argu- 
ment useless, he drew his revolver and said the first 
man that laid hands on him would get a ball through 
him. 

The men then gave it up, and giving Jewett a 
horse to ride, they started for Ft. Smith. On arriv- 
ing almost within sight of our pickets, the guerrilla's 
heart failed him and he said that he did not dare go 
in. Jewett found all argument with him to be use- 
less. Said the Lieutenant, "My mother lives at Ft. 



392 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Smith, inside the lines; you go to her, give her the 
horse and tell her I am all right; that is all that I 
ask of you." 

So they separated, the rebel going back to his 
companions, and Jewett toward the Port. On arriv- 
ing in sight of our pickets he was challenged, and 
not being able to give the countersign he was taken 
to the guard house for the night. Not a very agreea- 
ble reception after such an experience as his! 

The next morning he asked to be taken to a com- 
manding officer, and convincing him of his identity 
he was released from custody, and he went on his 
way rejoicing. 



Sergeants Wm. H. Guy. Company E. and Wm. A. 
Fallas. Company K, who were captured at Pleasant 
Hill, having agreed to escape at the first opportuni- 
ty, volunteered on the evening of April Uth, at Mans- 
field, to cook rations for the journey to Tyler, which 
was to begin next day. They baked the corn bread 
and boiled the beef for that march, closely guarded, 
until after midnight, when they "each took a small 
piece of the bread and beef, and walked off." 

Having put in a week among the bayous, forests, 
and tangled thickets of the Red River country, they 
joined the Regiment at Grand Ecore on the morning 
of the 17th of April. They brought the first reliable 
information obtained by our officers as to the com- 
pleteness of our victory at Pleasant Hill, and the ut- 
ter defeat and demoralization of the rebels. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 



Personal Memoranda, 



It has been from the first the plan of the Compil- 
er to note, as far as practicable, something of the 
personal history of each comrade. Each one has 
borne a part in making this honorable record possi- 
ble. Each one by reason of association in the Regi- 
ment is entitled to a share in the record. Many, 
through special capacity, gifts, or opportunity, illus- 
trated in their own persons the traits that have given 
the volunteer soldier who offered himself on the al- 
tar of his country his present place in the hearts of 
all worthy and patriotic citizens. It was thought to 
be practicable to make in this History large mention 
of such traits, and incidents which brought them in- 
to notice. But it has been found that the modesty of 
these brave men presented a barrier to such accom- 
plishment that could not be surmounted. Most of 
them have silently but firmly refused to mention 
their own achievements; and have not been persuad- 
ed to any considerable extent to give the achieve- 
ments of others as individuals, but only collectively. 

In the presentation of Portraits the same ob- 
structions have been encountered. With some these 
have been overcome by the desire to please the com- 
rades of other days by showing in some degree how 
the passing years have been carried, and to recipro- 
cate the like favor expected from others. Many 
will be disappointed in not finding the Portraits of 
some with whom they had association that specially 



894 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

endeared them to each other. This is not from the 
fault of any one, but is simply a misfortune that is to 
be borne with patience by all. 

It must be apparent that the Compiler, nor any 
one individual, could have such acquaintance with the 
personal history of a very large percentage of the 
Comrades as to be able to give sketches that would 
be satisfactory. It requires also no great skill in 
figures to show that the limits of one volume would 
not admit of extended notice of each one of so large 
a number as are entitled to mention. Even half a 
page to each comrade would double the size of the 
book. Therefore the brief notices herein must be ac- 
cepted as all that is possible under the limits of the 
space at command, and the time and strength of the 
Com pi lei-. 

The surviving Comrades are now widely separat- 
ed. They are to be found in every Western State; 
and in many of the States of the Central and South- 
ern portions of the Republic. Many of them occupy 
positions of responsibility. Some of them are widely 
known and respected because of useful and honorable 
labors in the public interest. Others have been high- 
ly successful in narrower fields, and most of them 
happy within the limits of their own comfortable 
homes and business relations. May this volume 
come to each of them as a kindly greeting from every 
living Comrade whose name is found herein. 

In this spirit the volume goes forth with kindly 
and hopeful greetings, from Comrade to Comrade, 
though the message be no more than a mere an- 
nouncement of the present Post Office address of 
many whose names are found herein. Even these 



low. a VOLUNTEERS. 395 

will have a present interest and a possible value, and 
may serve to open correspondence that may have 
been long desired. For such omissions of facts as 
may be noted none can have more regret than has 
the Compiler, and for these he has only to say that 
his not being able to do everything has not been tak- 
en as a reason for not doing all that he could. 

Each individual of the Regimental Field and 
Staff being personally known to nearly every Com- 
rade is here, as far as practicable, presented indivi- 
dually. It is to be regretted that during the third of 
a century that has elapsed since we stood side by 
side in the great struggle, death has been busy in 
this as in every other department, and in some cases 
seems to have left no representative to whom appeal 
eould be successfully made for personal memoirs. 

In the original muster-in of the Regiment, at 
Dubuque. October 6th, 1862, the following names were 
borne on the roll as of the 

Fjeld and Staff. 
John Scott, age 38, residence Nevada, Story 
County, native of Ohio, rank of Colonel, commission 
as such dated August 10th, 1862, being a promotion 
from the Lieutenant, Colonelcy of the Third Iowa In- 
fantry. 

Edward H. Mix. age 45, residence Shell Rock, 
Butler County, rank of Lieutenant Colonel,— former- 
ly Q. M. S. 3d Iowa Infantry. 

Gustavus A. Eberhart. age 26, residence Water- 
loo, Black Hawk County, native of Pennsylvania, 
rank of Major, formerly Lieutenant in Company I, 
3d Iowa Infantry. 

Charles Aldrich, age 84, Webster City, native of 



896 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

N. Y., rank of Adjutant. 

Thomas C McCall, a^e 35, residence Nevada, 
born in Ohio, rank of Quarter Master. 

Stephen B. Olney. age 41, residence Ft. Dodge, 
born in New York, rank of Surgeon. 

Jesse Wasson, age 40, residence La Porte City, 
native of Indiana, rank of Assistant Surgeon. 

Wm. B. Waters, age 43, residence Marshalltown, 
born in Connecticut, Assistant Surgeon. 

The commissions of these were of September 

19th. 1862. 

Lorenzo S. Coffin, age 38, residence Ft. Dodge, 

born in New Hampshire. Chaplain. Was mustered 

from Q. M. Sergeant October 30th 1862. 

Charles H. Huntley, age 29, Mason City, born in 
New York, was appointed Sergeant Major from Pri- 
vate in Company B. 

Allen T. Birchard, age 27. Boonsboro, native of 
Pennsylvania, was appointed Quarter Master Ser- 
geant November H, from Private in Company I, vice 
Coffin, promoted Chaplain. 

Jason R. Millard, a^e 27, Waterloo, native of 
Pennsylvania, appointed Commissary Sergeant from 
Private in Company C. 

Newcomb S. Smith, age 23. Albion, born in New 
York, appointed Hospital Steward from Private in 
Company K. 

Lucian M. Stoddard, age 33. Iowa Falls, born in 
Connecticut, promoted Drum Major from Musician in 
Company H. 

Benjamin G. Scott, as:e 2(5, Webster City, native 

of Ohio, promoted Fife Major from Private in Com- 
pany A. 

The non-commissioned Staff took rank from mus- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 397 

ter into service Oct. 6, 1862. 

The death of Col. Mix at Pleasant Hill, in April 
1*64; the resignatiun of Colonel Scott on May follow- 
ing; the discharge of Surgeon Olney, for disability, 
in October 1864; the resignations of Assistant Sur- 
geons Wasson and Waters, and of Adjutant Aldrich 
and Chaplain Coffin, in 1863; and the promotion of 
Quarter Master McCall to the rank of Captain and A. 
Q. M. of U. S. Volunteers in March 1864, brought 
numerous promotions. Captain Jonathan Hutchin- 
son. Ft. Dodge, came to the rank of Major, and Lt. 
Col. by brevet, and Captain J. R. Jones, Clarksville, 
to Major by brevet, aud Major Eberhart was commis- 
sioned and mustered as Lt. Colonel, and commission- 
ed as Colonel, though not mustered as such. Philan- 
der Byam, of Hopkinton, became Assistant Surgeon 
April 3d, 1863. and was assigned to the four com- 
panies; and in January 1865 was promoted to the 
rank of Major, and made regimental Surgeon. Wm. 
L. Huston, Iowa City, became Assistant Surgeon in 
August 1863, and Hospital Steward. Wm. B. Church, 
was commissioned as Assistant Surgeon in 1865, but 
was not mustered as such. 

Charles H. Huntley was commissioned Adjutant 
in August, 1H63, and was killed in battle at Pleasant 
Hill. Owing to some uncertainty for a time as to 
his death the commission to his successor did not is- 
sue until October 15th, 1864, when W. L. Carpenter, 
Second Lt. of Company G became Adjutant. Mean- 
time Quarter Master Sergeant Birchard had been 
recommended for promotion as Adjutant, by Colonel 
Scott, and Lt. Colonel Eberhart afterwards substitut- 
ed the reccmmendation of Lt. Carpenter. 



398 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



Morrison Bailey was promoted from Sergeant 
Major to regimental Quarter Master, to fill the place 
left vacant by the promotion of Captain McCall. 




Colonel John Scott 



IOW. a VOLUNTEERS. 399 

Captain Joseph Calwallaler, of Company K, be- 
came CliHplain in October 1863. 

Col. John Scott was a member of the Iowa State 
Senate in 1861, and left his seat to accept the cap- 
taincy of Company E. Third Iowa Infantry. He 
served with that Regiment as Lt. Colonel, until Au- 
gust, 1862, when he was promoted to the Colonelcy 
of the Thirty second Iowa [n fan try. He resigned 
May 27th. 1864. He has continuously lived in the 
home to which he returned; has been engaged in live- 
stock farming, varied by occasional duties in official 
positions, and assisting in efforts for the public wel- 
fare in various organizations for the improvement of 
Agriculture, and other industrial interests. Was 
elected Lt. Governor in 1867; State Senator in 1885; 
and served as President of State Associations for ad- 
vancing Improved Stock breeding, improving high- 
ways. &c. He served with the mounted Volunteers 
from Kentucky in the war with Mexico, and was tak- 
en prisoner with Cassius M. Clay and others in Janu- 
ary, 1847. Present residence is Nevada, Iowa. 

Lt. Colonel Edward H. Mix was a farmer and 
business man in Butler county, Iowa, in 1861. He 
enlisted in Company I. of the Third Iowa Infantry, 
and was appointed Quarter Master Sergeant. His 
son Thomas, in the same Regiment, was killed at his 
side in the battle at Blue Mills Landing, Missouri, in 
October 1861. His father was an officer in the 
American Navy. Colonel Mix was a brave cultured, 
and courteous gentleman, and fell at Pleasant Hill, 
firmly standing at his perilous post. His two sons, 
Edward and William, were enlisted men in the Thirty- 
second Iowa. 



400 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Colonel Gustavus A. Eberhart returned to bis 
home in Waterloo when the war closed, and served 
for a number of years as Clerk of the Courts. Since 
that time he has been mostly engaged in contract- 
ing for and erecting iron bridges, in the employ of 
companies extensively engaged in that work. The 
business has called him to other States, even to Cali- 
fornia, where he was thus engaged for some years. 
His present residence is Des Moines, Iowa. [See 
Portrait, page 50.] 

Major Jonathan Hutchinson was a carpenter and 
contractor in Ft. Dodge in 1862. His counsel and 
example in the enlistment of Company I — pointed to 
him as a leader, and insured a con tide nee and respect 
from his comrades that were never disappointed. One 
of the most touching episodes in the history of the 
Regiment was the death of his son, near his side, at 
Pleasant Hill. 

After his return he was elected Treasurer of 
Webster county, an office which he held for several 
terms. In the settlement of the affairs of the office 
there were found discrepancies that greatly embar- 
rassed and humiliated the gallant soldier, embittered 
his days, and shortened his life. They were caused 
by his generosity to those who abused his confidence. 
No one ever doubted his integrity. He died at Port 
Dodge in ]886. 

John R. Jones was commissioned major as a pro- 
motion from the Captaincy of Company E. August 
23d, 1865, but was not mustered as such. After his 
return to his home in Butler county he engaged in 
farming, and was for a time Sheriff of the county. 
He afterwards removed to Washington, D. C, and 



I C ) \V A V O L U N T K E RS. 



401 



finally to Florida, where he died about 1892, mourn- 
ed and respected by all who knew him. 

Surgeon Stephen B. Olney had been for many 
years the leading and trusted physician and surgeon 
at Ft. Dodge. After his discharge, in October. 1864, 
he returned to his former practice, to which as 




Major Philander Byam. 

health and strength permitted he devoted himself for 
a number of years. Later he sought relief from 
labor, and what he hoped would be a more congenial 
climate, by removing to Vineland. New Jersey, where 
he died. 

Surgeon Philander Byam entered service in 



402 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

April, 1863, as Assistant Surgeon, and was with the 
Four Companies in the campaign in Arkansas, join- 
ing the united Regiment at Vicksburg. He was com- 
mission Surgeon, with the rank of Major, January 
15th, 1865. His genial, unassuming, and cordial 
manner, made him a pleasant companion, and his 
kindness and sympathy endeared him to the com- 
rades. He died at Hopkinton, Iowa. 

Assistant Surgeon William B. Waters was a phy- 
sician of experience at Marshalltown. where he had 
long resided. Failing health and climatic effects im- 
pelled him to resign in the summer of 189:1 lie re- 
turned to his former home, resumed his practice, and 
when the Soldier's Home was established at Marshall- 
town he was appointed Surgeon thereto, which posi- 
tion he held at the time of his death. 

Assistant Surgeon Jesse Wasson had for a num- 
ber of years a leading practice as physician and sur- 
geon in Black Hawk and Benton counties. When he 
came to Iowa in 1853 he settled at Vinton, but in 1855 
he purchased the site of La Porie City, and a tract 
of land adjoining, and making that place his home he 
became the active leader of affairs, and promoter of 
the growth and advancement of the community 
Much of the resultant prosperity and character of that 
region is due to the wisdom, energy, and well direct- 
ed industry of Dr. Wasson. Resigned March 7. 6:5. 

He was Surgeon of the Ninth Iowa Cavalry un- 
til March, 1895, when his failing health and the cli- 
mate of Arkansas demanded his resignation. 

He was for a number of years a member of the 
County Board of Supervisors, and in 1869 was elect- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 403 

ed a member of the Legislature of the state. He 
died May Loth, 1889. 

Adjutant Charles Aldrich was the publisher of 
the Hamilton Freeman, at Webster City, in 1862, and 
was also Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives. 




Hon. Jesse WasSON. 
When Captain L. H. Cutler, Company A, was made 
Assistant Surgeon of the Ninth Iowa Infantry, Adju- 
tant Aldrich was commissioned Captain of Company 
A, but was never mustered nor served as such, and 
resigned December 28th, 186:5. 

On his return to Iowa he again engaged in jour- 
nalistic work, and took an active interest in political 



404 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



affairs, representing' Hamilton county for a time in 
the General Assembly. 

He donated to the State the large and quite fa- 
mous Aldrich Collection of Autographs. He is now 
Curator of the State Historical Department, for which 
an appropriation has been recently made, (1896.) in- 




Hon. Thomas C. McCall. 

suring the erection of a Memorial Hall in which are 
to be preserved such things as relate to the history 
of Iowa. His address is Des Moines. Iowa. 

Adjutant William L. Carpenter, who succeeded 
the lamented Adjutant Huntley, [killed at Pleasant 
Hill, 1 after his return to Iowa settled in Des Moines, 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



405 



and engaged in the manufacture of barbed wire, in 
opposition to the monopoly which had control of that 
industry. He was subsequently elected Mayor of 
the city; and afterward was Custodian of the Capitol. 
He is understood to have live stock or other inter- 
ests in Montana. His address is Des Moiues. 

Captain Thomas C. McCall was a member of the 
House of Representatives from Story county in 1862, 
and was a model regimental Quarter Master until he 
was promoted in that, service, and assigned to impor- 
tant posts of duty elsewhere. After the war he en- 
gaged in real estate business in Nevada, his former 
home. He was active and influential in public affairs 
and successful in business. He was elected to the 
State Senate, and was a prominent member of that 
body at the time of his death, which occurred in 
August 18i):>. 

Quarter Master Morrison Bailey, who succeeded 
Captain McCall, when the latter was promoted, en- 
lered the service as second sergeant of Company C, 
but at his own request was detailed in the Quarter 
Master's department. He was promoted Sergeant 
Major, and commissioned regimental Quarter Master- 
August 2, 1864. and served as such till muster out. 

He settled at Waterloo in 1853, and in 1856 was 
elected Representative in the General Assembly from 
the counties of Black Hawk and Buchanan. The 
strife and trickery of politics were distasteful to him, 
and he declined further service. 

In 1866 he removed to Michigan, where he en- 
s a^ed in business, from which failing health compell- 
ed him to retire in 1***. Meantime he was twice 



-ion 



THfKTY SECOND REGIMENT 



chosen President of the Village of Plainwell, and 
held responsible positions on the school hoard. His 
honesty and conscientious discharge of every duty 
commanded the confidence and esteem of all who 
knew him. He died at Plainwell, Michigan. March 
13th, 1890. 

His son, O. J. Bailey, is a prominent lawyer at 
Peoria, Illinois. 



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' 'i • i - •«& 



Morrison Bailky. 

Assistant Surgeon Wm. L. Huston wns. commis- 
sioned and mustered in August. 18tvJ, and-served till 
muster-out of the Regiment. He was left in charge 
of the wounded at Pleasant Hill, where he remained 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 407 

until they could be removed. His address is believed 
to be Marengo. Iowa. Dr. Huston had served as a 
private in the Second Iowa Cavalry. 

Chaplain Lorengo S. Coffin was an early settler 
near Port Dodge, where he as a hardy pioneer open- 
ed h farm on which he still lives. His ability, indus- 
try, and versatility, pointed him out as a suitable per- 
son to sustain the duties of almost any place to which 
he might be called. Captain Hutchinson had ap 
pointed him First Sergeant of Company I. When 
mustered in he was promoted to 
the position of Quarter Master 
Sergeant. By the end of October 
he was promoted to the position of 
regimental Chaplain. 

While occupying this place he 
was efficient in procuring reading 
matter for the camp as well as dainties for the hos- 
pital, and was ever ready to take hold of that which 
would ameliorate the conditions of the service. In 
his efforts in this behalf he was absent for a time, 
constituting a technical breach of array regulations, 
and because of representations made by Col. Wolfe, 
in command at Ft. Pillow, he left the service in the 
summer of 186;-$. 

His subsequent career has made him a noted 
man of his time. He became active in fostering in- 
dustrial progress, notably in stock-breeding and 
dairying. He was appointed on the State Board of 
Railway Commissioners, and through his interest in 
bettering the condition of Railway men has or- 
ganized various associations for their benefit. His 
order of the White Button, in the interest of total ab- 




408 



THIRTY SECOND KEGIMENT 



stinence among Railway employees, contains a mem- 
bership of many thousands, and is no douht of im- 
mense benefit 1o the members thereof.and also tends 




Sergeant Bjkchaud. 
greatly to (he safety and comfort of the traveling 
public. 

His address, as for the past forty years, is Port 
Dodge, Iowa. 

Chaplain Joseph Cadwallnder entered the ser- 
vice as Captain of Company K. Being a Methodist 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



409 



minster, a religious enthusiast, of an emotional na- 
ture, when a vacancy occurred he requested that he 
be appointed Regimental Chaplain, which was done 
in October. 1863. He served acceptably, and was es- 
pecially valuable and efficient in looking after contra- 
bands, both in camp and in the various campaigns. 
His address is Jacksonville, Florida; and for some 
years he has traveled and labored as an Evangelist. 

Quarter Master Sergeant Birchard was a* most 
faithful, efficient, and competent officer. He settled 
in Marshalltown some years after the war. where he 
now resides, one of the foremost citizens in character 
and influence. His ability and integrity are fully 
recognized by his fellow citzens, as well as by his 
comrades of the 32nd Iowa, for whose veteran asso- 
ciation he has continuously been secretary-treasurer 
up to 1895. He is also an influential member of the 
Board of Control of the Iowa Soldier's Home. 




Clark Fuller, of 
Company I, became 
Commissary Ser- 
geant February 4th 
1863. He was an 
efficient and valuable 
officer. After his 
return home he set- 
tled on his fine 
stock-farm near 

Kalo, Webster coun- 
ty, where he died, 
October 27th, 1895. 
He was President of 
the Regimental Vet- 



Clark Fuller 



410 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

eran Association in 1892 and 1893. 

Sergeant W. L». Defore, of Company D, was de- 
tailed in December 1862 to act as Regimental Wagon 
Master. After his return home he was elected by the 
people of Boone county to represent them in the 
General Assembly. He died in 1887. 



CHAPTER XXXVI 



Approximate Roster by Companies. 



The Com pi lei", as he approaches the labor of search- 
ing through all the volumns of the reports of the 
Adjutant General of Iowa, and the proceedings of 
Regimental re-unions, personal correspondence and 
his own memory, already overtaxed by the amount 
of data that has been examined, stands aghast at 
the task presented He cannot hope to do justice to 
the military and later records of very many of the 
comrades. He trusts that the intent to do what is 
right, and not to do what is wrong, may in some 
measure be accepted by the comrades in lieu of such 
memoranda as he would wish to present. 

The casualties reported are taken from the rolls 
in the office of the Adjutant General of Iowa. There 
are doubt less errors and omissions. In cases in which 
soldiers served through the war* without casualty, 
perhaps being in every battle in which the regiment 
was engaged, they may have but meager mention 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 411 

herein. Many of these were of the most soldierly 
bearing and high character, 

Effort has been made to give the present P. O. 
address of Comrades. This has been done to the ex- 
tent of giving a former address where the present 
one is not known. In cases where no State is men- 
tioned Iowa may be assumed as the residence. 

It will be observed that some of the Comrades 
are only mentioned by name. It is not to be under- 
stood from that fact that they have no militarv rec- 
ord. On the contrary it was possible for such a 
Comrade to have served with honor through the 
entire period, from muster-in at Dubuque, October 6, 
1862. to muster-out at Clinton, Agusut 24, 1865; to 
have borne the severe marches; to hav*e,, faced;, the 
enemy in the most deadly battles; to hay^s^ftd face 
to face with Death in all the ghastly phases hl^hich 
he was wont to present himself; and yet have no cas- 
ualty to be recorded as a small part of his history^of 
faithful service. Some such soldiers of the 32nd Iowa 
Volunteers have not even a "hospital record'' .on 
which to base a claim for a pension, yet they did 
their duty from day to day while they followed the 
Old Flag. 

Approximate Rostior of Company A, 



Dr. L. A. Cutler was the first Captain. He was 
41 years old, a native of New York and lived at Bel- 
mond, was a praticing physician and had been a 
member of the General Assembly. He was appoint- 
ed Assistant Surgeon of the 9th Iowa Infantry in 
Mav 1863. He removed to California and died 



412 THIRTY SECOND UEGTMENT 

there. 

Michael Ackerman enlisted as a private and was 
promoted Second Lieutenant in June 1863, promoted 
Captain in October 186^, was very severly wounded 
and left on the field at Pleasant Hill, (see page 149) 
was paroled about June 19th, was sent to New Orleans, 
thence to Memphis, and thence home. He was dis- 
charged in January 1865, and. is now Clerk of the 
Courts of Miner county, South Dakota, and lives at 
Roswell. 

John H. Ford enlisted in Company I, of which 
he was Sergeant,and Company A being left with only 
live men in the ranks after the battle of Pleasant 
Hill, all others being disabled or captured, he was 
promoted First Lieutenant of Company A, and was 
commissioned Captain in August 1865. but was not 
mustered. He lived until recently near Livermore, 
and was Postmaster there, At present he lives in 
Kansas. 

Allen Greer, of Berlin, Hardin county, was 
First Lieutenant; resigned in February 1861; died in 
Hardin county. 

Joseph P. Airy was Second Lieutenant, and re- 
signed in April ]863. His address is Durango, 
Colorado, 

Abiathar Hull, Algona, commissioned Second 
Lieutenant in October 1893, was not mustered, and 
was killed at Pleasant Hill. 

John N. Maxwell was First Sergeant, and was 
discharged for disability, March 19, 1863, He lives 
at Webster City. 

Andrew J. Ripley, Third Sergeant, was promot- 







Adjutant 32d Iowa Infantry, Oct. 6. 1862— Jan. 13, 1864. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 413 

ed First Sergeant, was wounded and captured at 
Pleasant Hill, was discharged for disability in 1865. 
Lives at Williams. 

Lewis S. Hazen was Second Sergeant, and was 
discharged for disability March 19, 1804. He lives 
at Huron, South Dakota. 

Amos Doan, Fourth Sergeant, was captured at 
Pleasant Hill. Address, Vermillion, South Dakota. 

Jasper Scurlock. Sergeant, discharged June 7, 
1865. at Davenport. 

John S. Qingsrle, Sergeant, wounded at Pleasant 
Hill. Lives at Robertson. 

Cyrenus H. Packard, Sergeant, died at Little 
Rock. Arkansas. Sept. 26. 1803. 

Win. P. Hiserodt, promoted Sergeant, thrice 
wounded and captured at Pleasant Hill, escaped and 
reached our army at Vicksburg; furloughed himself, 
and came to Iowa with Captain Ackerman; returned 
and served through the entire Missouri. Nashville 
and Gulf campaigns; was discharged for disability at 
Montgomery. July 17. 1805. 

Comrade Hiserodt was a man of rare bravery 
and resources; of great endurance; and would put 
down the rebellion if it took the last ham. chicken, 
or horse in the Confederacy. Illustrative of this it 
is told of him that iti Montgomery after Bragg's 
force was disbanded there, •"Bill" was in a saloon, and 
heard a rebel Major raving about the results of the 
surrender and his embarrassment at being compelled 
to go home without ever being whipped, etc., etc. 
"Bill" finally told him to square himself and he should 
have something that he could talk about to his folks 



414 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

at home; and proceeded at once to administer to the 
boastful and hitherto unwhipped rebel a most thor- 
ough and severe beating in the most approved knock- 
down style. After he returned to his home near 
Robertson he engaged in farming and raising live 
stock; was elected Justice of the Peace; was a mem- 
ber of the Board of Supervisors; took an active part 
in the prosecution of outlaws in chat region: and died 
there in 1894. (See portrait, page 162. ) 

Eligah Rogers, corporal, discharged for disabil- 
ity at Dubuque, October 30, 1862. 

Win. K. Laughlin was mustered in as corporal 
at Dubuque; discharged at Louisville as private, Feb. 
17, 1865. Lives at Fort Dodge. 

John S. Kersey, coporal, dis. at Little Rock 
for disability, Oct. 5. '63. Lives at New Providence. 

Thomas S. Hoskins, corporal, discharged at 
Cape Girardeau for disability, March. 4. 1863. 

Robert T. Rowan, corporal, died at Little Rock, 
Nov. 30, 1863. 

Joseph A. Kent, promoted corporal, captured at 
Pleasant Hill. Lives at Rowan. 

Mortimer Hiams, promoted corporal, wounded 
at Pleasant Hill. Died June 6, 1865 at Montgomery. 

Robert P. Mack, musician severely wounded and 
captured at Pleasant Hill. Lives in Kansas. 

Leonard Henkle. musican. 

John Courtney, teamster, died since his return 
home. 

Thomas C. Allen, died Nov. 27, 1862, at St. 
Louis. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 415 

Joseph Adams, discharged at Cape Giradeau, 

Nov. 26, 1862. Lives at Webster City. 

J. N. Airy lives at Smyrna. 

Patrick Burns, captured at Cape Giradeau, April 
26, 1868, also at Pleasant Hill. Lives at Owasso. 

Augustus Brown, alias Pietzke. Lives at Rice- 
ville. 

Menue D. Bootsman, died at Dubuque, Novem- 
ber 2. 1862. 

John Basham, died at Little Rock, September 
19. 1863. 

Thomas B. Bolton, died at Memphis, Sept, 19, 
1864. 

James Brock, discharged at Cape Girardeau, 
March 7. 1863, Lives at Tunnel. 

Archibald Bellville, died at Little Rock, Sept. 
14. 1863. 

Linas Betts, captured at Pleasant Hill, Lives 

at Verndale. Minn. 

George Benchoter, died at Little Rock, Oct. 7, 

1868. 

George W. Barnes, lives at Portland, Oregon. 

Hiram N. Chancy, promoted Sergeant. Lives at 

Arkansas City, Kansas. 

Win. H. Coutant. died at Memphis, June 18, '64. 

Thomas M. Canon, died-atMemphis^Sept. 2, '63. 

Cephas Church, died at Upper Grove after the 

war. 

James S. Cross, was discharged at Jefferson Bar- 
racks, August II, 1864. 



416 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Wm. T. Crockett, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Wm. Courrier, Oakland, Cal. 

Winthrop Dyer, San Diego, Cal. 

Louis Danger, died at Cape Girardeau, Mar. 5, '63 

John Downs is reported simply as "wounded at 
Pleasant Hill." But in 1893 Charles Packard writes: 
"John Downs and I started back together when we 
left our position at Pleasant Hill. He was shot in 
the back when we had only gone a short distance; 
I carried him until we met Gen. Mower's men, and 
laid him down. He crawled off into the brush and 
I could not find him. Just one year after that he 
came to us at Blakely, but never did any duty, and 
died at Steamboat Rock." 

Wm. O. Dean, discharged at Cape Girardeau, 
Nov. 10, 1863, Lives at Goldfield. 

Thomas Downs, transferred to Company B. 

James Duckett. 

James B. Dixon, discharged at Mound City. 
March 10, 1864. Lives at Eagle Grove. 

James Duffy, died in hospital for insane at Inde- 
pendence, Iowa. 

Roderick D. Faugh t, captured at Pleasant Hill. 
Lives at Yates Center, Kansas. 

Henry Frank, captured at Pleasant Hill. Lives 
at Renwick. 

James J. Gamble. 

Charles Gray, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Wm. H. Griffith, died at Memphis, May 29, '64 

Charles H. Griffith, a prominent farmer, and 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 417 

lives near Eagle Grove. Was transferred to Com- 
pany O. 

Win. Hamlin. 

John I. Hartman, died at Dubuque, Nov. 12, '62. 

Win. T. Hensley, died at Benton, Nov. 21, '63. 

John C. Heckart, 
a prosperous citi- 
zen of Eagle Grove. 
President of Regi- 
mental Association 
in 1895. 

John Hos k i n s, 
captured at Pleas- 
ant Hill. Lives at 
Iowa Palls. 

L. Henkle. 

George Houtz. 





tfe 




Oliver M. Hess, 

John C. Heckart. 
severely wounded at Port DeRussy, discharged 
March 7. 1865. Dead. 

J. L. Kerr, New Providence. 

James P. Kent, discharged Sept. 5, 1864, at 
Davenport, Lives at Dows. 

H. B King, lives at Carroll. 

Warren D. Lathrop, discharged March 7, 1863. 
Lives at Cherokee. 

David W. Lay ton, died since the war. 

Ezra H. Little, discharged March 4, 1862. 



418 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Wm. Moore, died December 30, 1865. 
Thomas Miller, discharged July 21, 1865, 

Joshua McFarland, wounded at Pleasant Hill. 
Lives at Vilas, Dakota. 

Samuel McFarland, lives at Stratford. 
John A. McFarland, lives at Stanhope. 




Wm. H. Griffith. 

Wm. W. Mattox, lives at Earling, 

John McMiller, wounded i3nd captured at Pleas- 
ant Hill. An officer at the State Penitentiary, 
Anamosa. Has been sheriff of Hamilton county. 

Nelson G. Olmstead, a prosperous resident of 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 419 

Tama City. 

Levi Olmstead, discharged Feb. 23, 1863. Lives 
at Weston, Neb. 

Simeon Overacker, transferred to Invalid Corps. 
Dead. 

Cassius M. Overacker, died Nov. 29, 1862. 




Charles H. Griffith. 

Charles E. Oreutt, wounded and captured at 
Tupelo, July 14, 1864. Died of wounds. 

Joseph T. Payne, captured at Pleasant Hill. 
Died in 1892. 

Inrank A Packard, captured at Pleasant Hill. 



420 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

(See pages 161-162) Lives at Delphas, Kan. 

Charles Packard, lives at Renwick, 

Artemus C. Packard, promoted Sergeant, lives 
at Wadena, Minn. 

Thomas J. Persons. 

Theodore Phillips, dead. 

Augustus Pitze. lives at Kicevillo. 

John Reed, has been recorder of Kossuth coun- 
ty. A merchant in Algona. 

William H. Renner, died Oct, 21, 1863. 
Stephen P. Ross, discharged Feb. 9, 1865. A 
minister at Fairbury, Neb. 

George Raines. 

Mathew J. Sample, lives at Humboldt. 

Rufus Sanderson, a farmer near Livermoro. 

Levi Scurlock, discharged Jan. 27, 1863, at St, 
Louis. 

Benjaman G. Scott, promoted Fife Major. 
Wm. F. Shafer, discharged October 14, 1863. 
Lives at Shubert, Neb. 

Andrew Smith, transferred to Second Lieuten- 
ant in 3d Arkansas; last address, Portland, Ore. 

Henry Smith, captured at Pleasant Hill, and 
died at Tyler, Texes. Oct, 12. 1864. 

Enna Smith, lives in Lyon county, Iowa. 

David H. Smith. 

Derk H. Stienblock, lives near Abbott, 

James D. Striker, died Feb. 18. 1863, at ('ape 
Girardeau. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 421 

Jerome B. Shipman. died June 11, 1864, at 
Memphis. 

Wm. R. Southard, lives at Cotesville, Neb. 

Geo. M. Sweeden, wounded and died at Pleas- 
ant Hill. April 20, 1864. 

Stephen Tjaden, captured at Pleasant Hill. A 
fanner near Alcona. 

John Talbot, died of wounds at Pleasant Hill, 
April 30. 1864. 

Luther N. Taylor; died June 28,'64, at Memphis 

Cyrus M. Townsend. captured at Pleasant Hill, 
died at Iowa Palls in 1895. 

Adam Wasem. 

Michael Walters, died November 8, 1863 at 
Cape Girardeau. 

John W. Ward, died in 1895 at Xenia, Ohio. 

James L. Wilcox, died Dec. 5, 1862 at St. Louis. 

Wm. Whited, died Arril 8. 1864 at Vicksbur^. 

Andrew Williams, captured at Pleasant Hill, and 
died at Tyler, Texas. May 2. 1864. 



422 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



Appoximate Roster of Company B. 



Amos B. Miller was a man of fine character and 
ability. Was Register of the State Land Office: a 
member of a Quaker family in Pennsylvania; and 
having been active in recruiting the company, was 




Lt. Thomas O. Howard. 

chosen Captain. '"He was brave, but not rash, as 
strict disiplinarian. and a polished, courteous gentle- 
man. When he died at Pleasant Hill, the regiment 
lost an able officer, and Iowa lost one of her noblest 
sons. He was respected and beloved by all his corn- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



423 



rades." 

He fell, shot through the body, in the heat of 
the battle, and his comrades carried him to the shel 
ter of the dry bed of a small stream near at hand, 
from which after nearly thirty hours he was removed 
with others to a cabin, and died the night of 




A. L. Townk. 

April 11th. [See page 151.] 

He did efficient service in command of a post at 
Fulton, near Fort Pillow, and also in command of 
the regiment at Columbus, when Col. Scott was in 
command of that Post. 

Harvey N. Brockway entered the service as 



424 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Fourth Sergeant, by promotion became First Ser- 
geant, and on the death of Captain Miller and First 
Lieutenant Howard, was commissioned Captain, 
and served through the war; was wounded at Pleas 
ant Hill. After his return home he engaged in Law 
and Real Estate in Hancock county; served as Judge 
of the Circuit Court; aad lives at Garner, in the en 
joyment of an independence fairly earned by attend- 
ing to business. 

Captain Brockway has taken an active and gen- 
erous interest in the preparation of this History, and 
in efforts to do justice to the reasonable fame of the 
living and the memory of his dead Comrades. [See 
portrait page 155.] 

William C. Stanberry was mustered with the 
company' as First Lieutenant, and resigned July 13, 
1863. Died at Mason City. 

Thomas O. Howard entered the service as First 
Sergeant, was promoted Second Lieutenant. Dec. 17, 
1862; promoted First Lieutenant, July ] 4, 1863; and 
died at Pleasant Hill, April 11, 1864. As a Soldier, 
he was brave and generous; as a Man. a Comrade, a 
Friend, he was trusted implicitly by his associates. 
When the battle opened he was in command of the 
skirmish line, and brought his men back in gallant 
stvle under the advance of the enemy in heavy force. 
He fell early in the action -while there was yet oppor- 
tunity to remove the wounded to the hospital. 
When Captain Miller and manyi others went down 
somewhat larer, no hospital force could reach them 
through the deadly storm. [See portrait page 422.] 

Mrs. Kosa Howard, his widow, lives at Clear 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 425 

Lake, and is always kindly greeted by the Comrades 
at the meetings of the Veterans of the Regiment. 

Henry Keerl was mustered as Fifth Sergeant: 
promoted, and from Third Sergeant was commission- 
ed First Lieutenant April 14, 1864. He served 
through the war and after he returned home, engaged 
in business, and was afterwards Postmaster at Mason 
City, where he now lives, a respected and influen- 
tial citizen. 

At the battle of Pleasant Hill, Company B was 
the extreme right of the regiment. The order to 
form to the left and make way toward our advancing 
troops was sent from the left down Lhe line but did 
not reach those of Company B who still remained in 
line The men, finding themselves abandoned, and 
the retreating enemy rapidly approaching, w r orked 
their way to the left and rear as best they could. 
dodging and covering their movements with trees 
and logs, and of these Sergeant Keerl was the first 
to join the remnant of lhe shattered Regiment which 
was led out-by Colonel Scott. He fell into line and 
having no comrades to join him in stacking arms, he 
desperately stuck his bayonet into the ground and 
thus "stacked arms" for Company B. He believed 
that all his comrades were slain on the field and 
reported his belief. He brought off his canteen, 
which contained a rebel bullet, but the water went 
out where the bullet cama in. 

Chauncey S. Lane entered the service as Second 
Lieutenant, and died of' pneumonia at New Madrid. 
Dec. 15, 1862. 

Samuel W. Griffin was- promoted from Second 



426 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



Sergeant to First, and was commissioned Second 
Lieutenant July 13. 1863. He was captured at Pleas- 
ant Hill, and discharged June 24, 1865. 

Harvey D. Barr, Third Sergeant, was promoted 
to Second, and to First Sergeant; was wounded at 
Pleasant Hill. He is said to be a farmer in Wood- 
bury county. 











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Ed. Nichols. 

Peter It. Wood, promoted from Coporal to Ser- 
geant, fatally wounded at Preasant Hill, and died 
April, 20, 1864. 

Albert L. Towne was a Corporal at date of mus- 
ter-in, and by promotion became Second Sergeant. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



42: 



There were many brave, intelligent, faithful soldiers 
in each company. Company B was no exception to 
this rule; and one who knew the men of that com- 
pany long and well, says that by a close shave be- 
tween many of them, he regarded Towne as the ideal 
soldier of the company. Always modest, always 




F. M. Rogers. 

ready, never officious, never meddling, never 
grumbling; demanding the treatment due to a faith- 
ful soldier, and never complaining over a neccessary 
hardship; asking-for the last bean and hardtack that 
was his due. but content on half-rations if that were 
necessary. 



428 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

In the battle of Nashville, charging the flying 
enemy; Towne, fifteen rods or more iu advance of 
his line, took a prisoner, disarmed him, trotted him 
into our lines, and joined the command as though 
that had always been his business. 

He is a farmer; has been Sheriff of Worth 
county, and his home is at North wood. 

Edwin Nichols was mustered in as Corporal, and 
by promotion became Sergeant. He was often en- 
trusted with special duties, requiring sagacity and 
courage, and discharged them with zeal and ability. 
[He has furnished copious notes as to the service of 
the company r and of many interesting details relating 
to other comrades and himself, which are so inter- 
woven with matters already incorporated in the text 
that it is not practicable to insert them here.] He is 
a prominent farmer near Clear Lake. His portrait 
indicates that he like others has aged a trifle in the 
past thirty years. 

Milton P. Goodell, mustered as Corporal T promot- 
ed Sergeant, wounded at Pleasant Hill and died there 
in the hospital May 9, 1864. 

Alonzo Frink, mustered as Corporal. 

Abiel Pierce, mustered as private, promoted ta 
Sergeant. At one time lived near Sheridan, 111. 

John Christie Jr. was mustered as private, aud 
promoted Sergeant. He has served as Auditor of 
Hancock county; and lives at Concord. 

Peter Crum was mustered as Corporal, and dis- 
charged at Keoku'ck, Jan. 11, 186")., His address is 
Henryville, Florence Co., Tenu. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 429 

Chandler W. Scott, Corporal, discharged at Col- 
umbus, July 22. 1864. 

Bruce A. Bryant, discharged May 10. 1864. Was 
a farmer and died at Mason City September 29, 1895. 

Leonard R. Warner, promoted Corporal, died at 
Mason City. Oct, 4, 1864. 

.Tamos Turner, promoted Corporal, died August 
1, 1865. at Demopolis, Ala. 

James Jenkinson, promoted Corporal, captured 
at Pleasant Hill, and died at Mason City in 1893. 

Peter Cope, promoted Corporal, died Dec. 12, 
1864. at Bristol. Iowa, 

George H. Welsh, promoted Corporal, lives in 
Boone, a prominent druggist, influential citizen and 
successful business man. 

Joseph Morris, promoted Musician. 

Francis M. Rogers. Musician, discharged July 
10. 1865. at Montgomery. Ala. Is a banker at Clear 
Lake. 

James Clark, promoted Corporal, is a farmer and 
lives near Mason City, 

Edward Thorpe, promoted Corporal. 

Joseph Woodland, promoted Corporal, and died 
in Dakota since the war. 

Otis Greeley, promoted Corporal; was a farmer, 
and died at Bristol in 1885. 

Chas. M. Adams, is District Court Reporter, and 
lives at Mason City. 

Eugene B. Aulman, enlisted Feb. 29, 1864 

David H. Butt, died at Fort Pillow, April 12, '63. 



430 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Edward E. Billings, enlisted January 1864. 

Benjaman Bloker, was a farmer, and died at 
Kensett, Iowa in 1893. 

Doctor C. Bigelow, enlisted December 1863. 

Chailes R. Belanskie was wounded and captured 
at Pleasant Hill, Lives at Nora Springs. 

Lewis B. Boom bower was captured at Pleasant 
Hill. 

Ole T. Bergo, died at Bristol. la., Sept. 15. 1895. 

Geo. O. Brown was discharged May 25, 1861 at 
Davenport. A farmer near Mason City, 

Jacob G. Brown, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Leander L. Brenton; a farmer near Mason City. 

Benjamin F. Crum, a farmer near Elk Point, S. D. 

James B. Cravath, a ranchman at Powa.v. San 
Diego county. Cal. 

Anthony Carr, died Jan. 5. 1H65, on Steamer 
"D. A. January.'' 

Cyrus A. Church, fanner and capitalist, Bel- 
mond, Iowa. 

John A. Curran, wounded at Pleasant Hill. Died 
in Kansas. 

Wm. B. Church, lives at Marshall. Mich. 

Allen T. Cole, a farmer, and lives near Forest 
City. Was wounded and captured at Pleasant Hill. 

John Connell. wounded and captured at Pleas- 
ant Hill. Lives at Boyden. 

Wm Cole, died June 26. 1864. 

Albert Clark, died March 26, '64. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 431 

John Crosier, wounded at Pleasant Hill; died 
July 18, 1864, at Cairo. 

Charles Church, enlisted in February '6o; transfer- 
red to 8th Iowa. 

Wra. Dack. transferred to Invalid Corps. Died 
in Dakota. 

John Ecksteine, transferred for promotion in 
68th U. S. (Colored) Infantry. Died in Kansas. 

Samuel El wood, transferred to V. R. C. May 29, 
1864. Lives at Floyd. 

Jacob G. Folsom, enlisted Jan. 2, '64. 

James H. Felt, discharged May 5, 1863. Lives 
at Britt. 

John P. Ford, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

James L. Fry. died Jan. 17. '63, at Fort Pillow. 

Wm.E Fisher, discharged Feb. 23, '64. 

Chancey H. Frost, enlisted December 1863. 

F. B. Florence, wounded at Pleasant Hill. Lives 
at Mason City. 

Win. Florence. 

Geo. A. Fuller, died June 27, 1864. 

Zebediah S. Graves, died June 8, '64. 

Wm. N. Gallup. 

Thomas S. Gardner, discharged July 16, 1865. 
Lives at Clear Lake. 

Solomon Greeley, enlisted Feb. 26, '64. Lives 
at Lake Mills. 

John Henry, died June 14. '64 at Vicksburg. 

Ignatius Heiney, lives at Fertile. 



432 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Edward Hughes, farmer, lives near Forest City. 

Wm. C. Hawks, enlisted Dec. 23, '63. 

Win. Harris, wounded at Pleasant Hill. Lives 
near Robertson. 

Wilbur F. Hoyt, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Amos Ingalls, died of wounds at Pleasant Hill , 
April 20, 1864. 

Halvor Inglebrhzen, lives near Bristol. 

Marion Jones, enlisted Feb. 4. 1864. 

Franklin Judd. lives at Manly. 

William A. Kerns. 

James Sornson Lahd. 

Bije Long - , lives in Montana. 

Sylvester Lebanway, died March 9, 1864 at 
Vicksburg. 

Hiram K. Landrue. discharged July 28. 1865. 
Lives in Minnesota. 

Geo. B. W. Lannint/, Musician; a printer, pub- 
lishes a paper and lives at Egan, S. Dak. 

Douglass Magill. farmer. Deer Creek. Minn. 

Thomas Magill, farmer. Deer Creek, Minn. 

H. A. Marsh, wounded at Yellow Bayou, and 
discharged at Davenport. April 20, 1865. He has 
been Sheriff of Cerro Gordo county. Lives at Mason 
City. 

Cyrus Morris, wounded at Pleasant Hill also at 
Blakely. 

Joseph Morris, supposed to be in Dakota. 
Orrin F. Morris, wounded at Yellow Bayou. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



433 



Columbus Mason, died Jan. 20, '63 at Port Pillow. 

David J. Martin, discharged Oct. 29. 1862. 

Arthur McConville, wounded and captured at 
Pleasant Hill. Was drowned January 1894 at Wood- 
villo, Oregon. 




Martin B. Parker. 

Archibald McDonald, enlisted Jan. 2, '64. 
Edward E Needham. enlisted Jan. 2, '64. 
Austin Oleson, lives at Northwood. 
Herbrand Oleson, discharged May 5, '63. 
Martin B. Parker, captured at Pleasant Hill, 



434 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

taken to Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas; where he man- 
aged to deceive the rebel officers to the extent of his 
liberty, by personating an absent man of another 
regiment, and being noted as exchanged. He joined 
the Kegiment at Cairo and followed its fortunes 
through the later campaigns, and was discharged at 
Montgomery July 27, 1865, as having been in Rebel 
prison more than six months. He was then so 
emaciated that his mother refused to believe in his 
identity. His home is in Blue Earth City, Minn., and 
he is State Agent of Insurance Companies. 

He has evidently made nice gains in several ways 
since he left the Rebel prison. See portrait in evi- 
dence of this. 

Henry O. Pratt, discharged at Fort Pillow, 
March 18, '63. Has been a Member of Congress, and 
is a minister in the Methodist church. 

Lester Place was captured at Lake Chicot. June 
6, 1864, and died at Tyler, Texas, Oct. 23, '64. 

John W. Plummer. 

John Randall, wounded and captured at Pleas- 
ant Hill. Is a farmer at Manly. 

James Randall, died July 23, '64. 

John Rossell. captured at Pleasant Hill. 

Samuel C. Rbbbins. died Jan. 22, '65 at Eastport, 
Miss. 

Win. Rhodes was for many years a farmer and 
miller at Fertile, Iowa; he became a resident of 
Mason City, hut has returned to Fertile. He assist- 
ed Captain Miller when wounded, and brought off 
his watch and sword. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 435 

Charles T. Rosencrans, died Aug. 1, '04 at Mem- 
phis. 

Jabez Sumner, killed on boat by guerrillas firing 
irom the levee, Feb. 13, 1865, 

Wm. H. Spaulding, killed at Pleasant Hill. 
George W. Swanger. died June 22,1864 at Mound 
City. 

Charles Strong, transferred to Veteran Reserve 
Corps. 

Philander A. Sawyer, discharged March 10, 1803 
at Port Pillow. 

Henry M. Tewney, transferred for promotion as 
Lieutenant to 107 U. S. (Colored > -Infantry. Lives 
at Plymouth. 

Samuel Tenuis, died on boat June 9, 1804. 
P. J. Turnure, captured at Pleasant Hill. Died 
of heart disease at Mason City, Oct. 14, 1895. 

Cornelius W. Tobin, captured at Pleasant Hill. 
Lives at Flandreau, S. D. 

John West, a railway contractor, and lives at 
Mason City. 

Oliver J. Winters, discharged May 5, '63. Lives 
at Cascade. 

Hiram A. Wiltfong, died March 8, 1803 at Fort 
Pillow. 

Joseph Woodland, 

Oscar A. Wilson, died of wounds at Pleasant 
Hill, April 29. 1804. 
Lemuel Williams. 



436 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Appoximate Roster of Company C. 



Herbert F. Peebles was commissioned and mus- 
tered as Captain Oct. 1, 1863. He was a very bright 
young man of fine manners and accomplishments, a 
favorite in society and the Regiment. He is re- 
membered as an ideal soldier and gentleman, and his 
early sacrifice was sincirely mourned. He died April 
26, 1864 in hospital, of wounds received at Pleasant 
Hill. See the account of his death as given by Cap- 
tain Ackerman, page 152. 

Henry C. Raymond's rank as Captain dates from 
April 26, 1864, and was a promotion from First 
Lieutenant at the death of Captain Peebles. 

Captain Raymond is understood to have retired 
from active business. He has been active and ear- 
nest in encouragement of the publication of this 
History, and standing bravely for the permanent 
record of its loyalty, as in time of need he helped to 
make that record. His home is in Charles City, la. 

Benjamin F. Thomas, mustered in as Second 
Lieutenant and promoted to First, April 26, 1864. 

Patrick Mclsaacs, promoted Second Lieutenant 
from First Sergeant, April 26, 1864. Resigned Jan. 
19, 1865. Was for some years a prominent farmer 
and citizen of Waterloo; was a Director of the State 
Agricultural Society; removed to Lathrop. Mich., 
where he died March 12, 1884. 

Wellington Russell was commissioned Second 
Lieutenant, August 1, 1865, but was mustered out as 
Sergeant. He Is an active and influential citizen and 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 433 a 



HOTS. 



After the Roster of Company B had passed 
through the printers hands, a letter was re- 
ceived from Geo. H. Welsh, urging the Compiler to 
give extended notes of "the boys of 1862, and the 
same 'boys' 30 years later, many of them now in po- 
sitions of honor and trust, and blest with homes, 
families and the means of enjoying life." He sug 
gested the reproduction of their photos and those of 
their wives and families for this volume. He men- 
tioned as some of those who had not only held high 
the honor of soldiers on bloody fields, but had also 
achieved success in civil life, such members of Com- 
pany B as Brockway, Rogers and Keerl, also Bark- 
ley of D, all of whom in honoring themselves had 
done honor to our Regiment. 

And while the time has passed in which it was 
practicable to work out his suggestions for others, 
the Compiler took advantage of Comrade Welsh's 
enthusiasm to extort from him the suggested photos, 
and some memoranda as to his history after being 
mustered out, all of which no doubt will please many 
Comrades by their reproduction in pages added for 
the purpose. 

The portraits explain themselves. In August 
1862. Comrade Welsh, at the age of 17 years and 
weighing 96 pounds, took the oath of a soldier. He 
was the orphan son of a soldier of the 46th Illinois, 
who fell at Shiloh, April 7, 1862. After a third of a 
century, with the aid of this copy of a faded and 
rusty photo, we again see this sturdy boy as he stood 



434 a 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



in government clothing", all too large for him, the 
unnecessary length of bis trousers helping to round 
out the legs of his too ample boots. 

After serving three years and sixteen days, and 
fighting from Fort de Russy to Fort Blakely, he had 
reached a hieght of five feet and four inches, and a 




Geo. H. Welsh. (1896) 

weight of 135 pounds. Being somewhat ambitious 
as to avordupois he has gained an average of a pound 
a year; thongh presumably some of this weight was 
acquired simply for fashion's sake when he became 
an alderman, in which capacity he served his city 
most acceptably, and advanced her interests by 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



435 a 



urging and aiding in the construction of her water- 
works and street fail ways. 

He was a printer. After a year in the high 
school he purchased a half interest in The Times at 
Marshal Mown. A year later he established himself 
in the dru<* business in Boone, which has continued 
to the present. 




Mrs. Helen F. Welsh. 

Mrs. Helen Prances Welsh was born in Rockford, 
111; married our Comrade in 1867; is the mother of 
three sons and two daughters; is president of the 
Hawthorne Club, and takes an active interest in all 
that pertains to the advancement of women and the 



436 a THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

betterment of their condition. 




Geo. H. Welsh. (1862) 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 437 

adealer in grains at Liscomb, Iowa. 

Morrison Bailey, Second Sergeant at muster-in. 
[See portrait and sketch, page 406.] 

Charles K. White, promoted First Sergeant; dis- 
charged April 20, 1865, at Davenport, Lives in Kan- 
sas. 




Capt. H. C. Raymond. 

J. Henry Cutter, promoted Third Sergeant; dis- 
charged Dec. 18, '63, at Columbus. 

Daniel W. Albaugh, promoted Fourth Sergeant. 
Killed in battle at Nashville. 

John M. Wood, promoted Sergeant; discharged 



438 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

July 6. 1665. Died Jan. 22, 1892 at Wales Center, 
Erie county, N. Y. 

Cornelius Bennett, promoted Sergeant, died of 
wounds at Pleasant Hill. April 10, '64. 

Nathan R. Ordway, promoted Sergeant, died at 
Waterloo. 

Humphrey T. Roberts, promoted Corporal, lives 
at Arkansas City, Kansas. 

Chase P, Hunt, promoted Corporal, wounded at 
Pleasant Hill, discharged June 25. 1865, at Jefferson 
Barracks. 

Orra Alexander, promoted Corporal; died at 
Mendon, Mich, in 1894. 

Win. Nichols, promoted Corporal, died April 9, 
1864 at Waterloo. 

Edward B. Williams, promoted Corporal, is a 
prominent druggist and citizen of Strawberry Point. 

John LaBarre, promoted Corporal, was dis- 
charged at Keokuk, May 19, '65. Lives at Waterloo. 

Prank Williams, promoted Corporal, wounded at 
Nashville, discharged July 26. 1865. 

Wm. Prouty. Corporal, killed at Lake Chicot, 
June 6. 1864. 

Elias S Lichty, Musician, died at Waterloo, Oct. 
18, 1863. 

. Elijah M. Balcom, Musician, transferred to 24th 
Missouri, Aug. 12, 1863. Died at Waterloo. 

Joseph P. McParland. teamster, died at Pleas- 
ant Hill, April 18, '64, of wounds received in battle. 

Thomas Aikiuson, transferred to Invalid Corps, 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 439 

Nov. 20, 1863, Lives at Norway. 

Isaac V. G. W. Brown, died May 15, '63 at Fort 
Pillow. 

Elnathan Brooks, discharged Feb. 3. '65. Died 
in hospital. 

John W. Backus, discharged May 29, '63 at Fort 
Pillow. 

Ransom S. Bowers, lives at Saratoga, Kan. 

Allen T. Baldwin, wounded at Pleasant Hill. 
Lives at Hudson. 

Wm. H. Bowen, discharged May 26, '65 at Daven- 
port, Lives at Bull City. Kan. 

Chas. W. Benight was mustered Jan. 5, '64. 
Lives at Brooks. 

James Baldwin. 

Americus Bond, died in 1890. 

E. C. Brainard, lives at Prairie du Chien, Wis. 

John H. Brooks, lives at Central City, Neb. 

Isaac A. Baker, 1369 N. Broadway, Oakland, Cal. 

N. M. Carson, died in South America. 

Hiram Couch Jr., died June 29, '63, at Columbus. 

Chas. A. Clark, lives at Fairbury, Neb. [See 
page 357.] 

James L. Cooley. transferred to Veteran Keserve 
Corps, Jan. 11, '65. Lives at Waterloo. 

George D. Clark, lives at 286 West High St. 
Dubuque. 

Wm. Colvin. lives at Ida Grove. 

Robert Clark, discharged May 29, '63, at Fort 



440 



THIRTY SECOND KEG I MEN T 



Pillow. Lives at May View, Kan. 

James A. Carter, Vinton. 

Joseph Craypo, mustered in April, and died at 
Memphis, July 20, 1864. 

Charles Cleveland, wounded at Pleasant Hill. 

Henry Chapman, died at Memphis. July 14, "64. 




Wellington Russell. 

W. W. Campbell, lives at Jesup. 

Thomas B. Doxie, wounded at Pleasant Hill. Is 
a farmer and lives near Washburn. 

Zen as J. Duke, wounded at Pleasant Hill. Lives 
at Waterloo. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 441 

Lovi Donley. 

Johm Eminett, lives at Traer. 

Lather Ellis, lives at Waterloo. 

Lloyd Eberhart, lives at Joliet, 111. 

John Felton, died Juno 18, 1864. 

Augustus Fiske, discharged Oct. 3, '63. 

0. R. Pilkins, died June 30, '64, at Memphis. 

Edward Flood, killed in battle, Feb. 28, '64. at 
Canton, Miss. 

Horace J. Goodwin, died at Memphis, April 22, 
1865. 

Miles B. Gilbert, 

Solomon Haney, lives at Cedar Falls. 

Jesse Heifer, captured at Pleasant Hill. Lives 
at Republic City, Kansas. 

Johnson B. Hewitt, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Amos B. Highsmith, lives at 1728 Second Ave., 
Council Bluffs. 

John L. Jackson, lives at Waterloo. 
Levi L. Jolls, lives at Waterloo. 
Jacob B. Kellogg, died at Soldiers' Home. 
Joel M. Lichty, died from wounds received in 
battle at Nashville, Dec. 21, '64. 

Cyrus W. Lichty, lives at Waterloo, 

Alonzo Lomon. 

David M. Longaker, died prior to 1891. 

August Meyer, 113 Seventh St., Ashland, Wis. 

Lafayette Martindale, died July 4, 1864, at Mem- 



442 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

phis, of small-pox. 

T. P. Marquard, Florence, Arizona. 

Jason R. Millard, promoted to the Staff; Port- 
land, Oregon. 

Barnard McCormick. severely wounded at Pleas - 
Hill. Lives at Waterloo. 

Jacob L. Myers, died Sept. 8. '64. at Jefferson 
Barracks. 

Samuel S. Martin, Canton, S, D. 

Elias A. Moore, discharged March, 5, '64. Lives 
at Lohrville. 

J. Morris, lives at Rock Palls. 

Levi Miller, lives at Emporia. Kan. 

Albert W. Miller. 

George F. Mathews, lives at Frederica. 

David J. Miller, Emporia, Kan. 

Wm. H. Mills, died at Cairo, Junp 27, '64. 

Alexander McCall, Soldiers" Home, Milwaukee. 

James F. McFarland, died of wounds at Pleas- 
ant Hill, April 18, '64. 

Adam N. Ohler, died at Lincoln, Neb, Feb. 22, 
1894. 

Alva Page, lives at Waterloo, 

John S. Phillis. 

George N. Palmer, Grundy Center. 

Almon W. Parmenter, lives at Perry. 

David F. Phillips, died at Fort Pillow, May 28, '63. 

Sidney W. Palmer, died of wounds at Pleasant 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 443 

Hill, May 13, '64. 

Ziba Rice, discharged March 20, '63, at Fort 
Pillow. Lives at Vedette, Ark. 

Andrew J. Rose, Berlamont, Mich. 

Warren Rath burn. 

Leonard L. Redfield, lives near Canton, S* D. 

James A. Redfield. died at New Orleans, June 9, 
1864. 

John N. Richardson, discharged at Fort Pillow, 
May 30, 1863. Lives at South West City, McDonald 
county. Mo. 

Charles Risden writes kindly from Ainsworth, 
Neb., and mentions among the men of Company C, 
"who were seldom from duty — Trask, Eugene Brain- 
ard, Fred Switzer, E. B. Williams, McCormick, Jack- 
son, Tom Doxey, Alexander and Mclsaac. 

H. T. Roberts, 419 S. C. Street, Arkansas City, 
Kansas. 

Harrison Rich, enlisted in '64. Lives in Lowell, 
Arkansas. 

Frederick Shaffer, died at Waverly. 

William Davis Switzer, one of the boys of 1862, 
writes from Cheney- in far-off Washington, where he 
is a prominent citizen and druggist of that growing 
city, and sends kind regards to the old comrades. 
He was discharged at Montgomery, Jan. 24, 1865. 

Frederick Switzer, lives at Cheney, Wash. 

Cyrus Shaffer, died at Nashviile, Dec. 7, '64. 

Frank Shaffer, lives at Alma, Neb. 

C. B. Shaw, wounded and captured at Pleasant 



444 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Hill. Lives at Oskaloosa. 

Robert Smith, lives at Milford. 

Uriah Scott, died at Waterloo. 

A. J. W. Thompson. Hastings, Minn. 

Albert Trask, a leading attorney at Saginaw, 
Mich. [See pages 107 to 117.] 




Wm. Trobridge. 

William Trobridge. hardware merchant and 
business man in Carroll, Iowa. [See page 297.] He 
was rejected in 1862, being under age; and enlisted in 
1864. 

Henry Vogle, died at Waterloo, 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS -44 "> 

Eugene M. Vorhees, lives at Waterloo. 

Isaac Virden, enlisted Jan. 1K64. 

('has. White, lives at Keno, Christian county, Mo. 

Ainasa Worthington. Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Freeman T. Whipple, died at Memphis, July. 5, 
1864. 

John N. Ward, died at Vermillion, S. D. 

Oscar W. Webster, wounded at Pleasant Hill. 
Lives at San Pedro, Los Angeles county, Cal. 

Charles Wiltse. 

John H. Young, Station B, St. Louis, Mo. 



Api'oxtmate Roster of Company D. 

Theodore DeTar was a practicing physician in 
Boonsboro in 1862, and was selected to lead the Com- 
pany raised there for the 32nd Iowa Infantry. He 
was commissioned and mustered as Captain Oct. 6, 
1862, and commanded the Company until he was 
severely wounded in the battle of Nashville. Dec. 16, 
1861. He was discharged for disability caused by 
his wounds, (suffering the amputation of a leg) May 
15, 1865. He died in Florida in 1891. He was a mod- 
est, brave and meritorious man and officer. 

Robert J. Shannon had seen service in the war 
with Mexico. He was mustered as Second Lieuten- 
ant of Company D, promoted First Lieutenant on the 



446 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

discharge of Templin, and commissioned Captain 
August 23, 1865, but not mustered. He enjoys his 
ease, houors and years, at Boone, Iowa. 

William D. Templin was mnstered as First Lieu- 
tenant at organization, and so continued until 
discharged for disability from wounds at Yellow 
Bayou. He suffered the loss of a leg in that battle, 
May 18. 1864. and was discharged March 30. 1865. 

He became a successful pension attorney in 
Boonsboro, where he now lives, in the respect and 
confidence of bis fellow citizens and old comrades. 

Joseph H. Harvey was commissioned First Lieu- 
tenant August 23, 1865, being a promotion from 
First Sergeant, but was not mustered under ihe com- 
mission. He died in 1890. 

Joseph G. Miller, First Sergeant, captured at 
Pleasant Hill, and died while in prison at Tyler, 
Texas, July 28, '64. 

W. L. Defore, Sergeant, detailed Wagon Master, 
Dec. 26, '62. Died in 1887. 

David S. Jewett. promoted Sergeant, captured at 
Pleasant Hill; escaped from Tyler. Died in 1885. 

Francis M. Spurrier, Sergeant, wounded at 
Pleasant Hill, discharged for wounds, Nov. 24, 1864. 
Lives at Cgden. 

lsaas C. Nutt. Sergeant, died Nov. 8, '63, at 
Benton, Ark. 

Jasper W. Holmes, promoted Sergeant, lives at 
816 Cooley street, St. Joe. Mo. 

Austin C. Warrick. Corporal, discharged Jan. 20, 
1865. Lives at Lampoe, Cal. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 447 

Martin Summers, Corporal, relieved at his own 

request. 

James P, Williams, promoted Corporal, lives at 
422 W street, Emporia. Kan. 

Malbern Pettibone, Corporal, killed at Pleasant 
Hill. 

Daniel W. Robbins, captured at Pleasant Hill. 
Retired merchant; home at Colorado Springs; ad- 
dress in winter months, San Diego, Cal. [See portrait 
page 164. J 

Wm. M. Petty, Corporal, lives near Pilot Mound. 

John Weston, Corporal, wounded at Pleasant 
Hill, and died of wounds at Memphis, May 18, 1864. 

Wm. Stover, Corporal, reduced at his own re- 
quest. Lives at Miller, S. D. 

Penelon W. Hull, promoted Corporal, wounded 
at Tupelo. Died at Boone in 1885. 

Isaac Williams, promoted Corporal, died at 
Mound City, Jan. 24, '64. 

Joseph Bone, Musician, 

Samuel Bone, Musician, lives at Silverdale, Kan. 

Norman P, Rogers, teamster, discharged March 
4, '63. Lives at Boone, 

Robert Atkinson, killed in battle at Bayou Metoe, 
Aug. 27, '63. 

James Atkinson, lives at Pana, 111. 

John A. Atkinson, killed at Tupelo, Jaly 14, '64. 

H. Abercrombic, wounded at Little Red River, 
August 18, '63; discharged Dec. 16. '64. 



44s THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Abner Arasmith. died at Cape Girardeau, June 
16, 1863. 

W. C. Ainsworth, Fort Dodge. 

Francis Annis, died at Vicksburg, May 30, '64. 

Samuel Andrews, lives at Boone. 

Edward M. Boone, lives at Boone. 

J. P. Boone, Boone. 

Win. S. Berry, lives at Turner, Neb. 

Peter Battin. killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Saumel C. Blunk, wounded at Pleasant Hill, dis- 
charged Sept. 4, '64. Lives at Boone. 

Amos I Blunk, wounded at Pleasant Hill, dis- 
charged Nov. 1. '64. Lives at Galena, Kan. 

Jacob M. Buffington, captured at Pleasant Hill. 
Lives at Oxford, Kan. 

Alonzo J. Barkley. wounded and captured at 
Pleasant Hill. A banker in Boone. 

James A. Baker, died at Alexandria, April 11,'64. 

John W. Benson. 

Edward E. Billings. 

Wm. D. Carpenter. 

Joseph I. W. Cline, discharged March 13. '63. 
Lives at Boone. 

Edward M. Cline. discharged March 13, '63. 
Lives at Pilot Mound. 

Stephen W. Cree, lives at Luther. 

Isaac B. Cummings, Boone. 

Moses S. Capps, killed at Pleasant Hill. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 449 

Hezekiah Carpenter, Pilot Mound. 
A. J. Delander. 

James A. Davis, died of wounds at Pleasant 
Hill, May 4, 1864. 

Cyrus M. Davis, Luther. 

John B. Dooley, 1523 N. 20th St., Omaha, Neb. 
Thomas E. Dooley, Boone. While Company D 
was at Benton, Ark. in January 1864, Dooley was 
captured by a scouting party of Marmaduke's men, 
who took in ten six-mule teams that were loaded 
with supplies for the troops at Benton, hauling the 
same from Little Rock. Dooley had been in hos- 
pital and was sent by this tram to Benton. The 
captors abandoned the wagons, taking what 
clothing they could carry on the mules. The capture 
was about 5 o'cloek p. m., and the party traveled all 
night, reaching the rebel camp next day. Dooley 
became too ill and weak to ride and was dumped in 
the road, reaching a cabin early in the morning, he 
exchanged his new boots and some clothing for a 
ride to Benton. 

W. R. Dyer, Boone. 
Aaron Doty, Kimball, S. D. 

Cyrus A. Ebersole. wounded at Little Red River 
and transferred to Invalid Corps. Lives at Ana- 
mosa. 

Edward Eckley, dischargsd Nov. 16, 1863. 
George H. Fox, killed at the battle of Little Red 
River. 

John W. Gilliland, Superior, Neb. 

Hugh R. Gilliland, Sisseton, S. D. 



450 THIRTY SECOXD ItEGIMENT 

Win. G. Grayson, Boone. 

Robert N. Gwinn, transferred to Company I. 

W. W. Goodrich, wounded at Little Red River, 
and discharged Jan. 16, "64. Lives at Luther. 

James Gaskil, Hubbell. Neb. 

J. B. Hurlbnrt, Indianola. 

Benjamin N. Hickman, wounded and captured at 
Pleasant Hill. Lives at Pinos Altos, New Mexico. 

Lewis S. Hinman, died in 1892. 

Win. C. Hickman, Boone. 

Nicholas Harter. killed at Pleasant Hill. 

George D. Hunter, discharged March 7. '63. 

Tyler Higbee. 

John Herron, discharged March 24. *64. Boone. 

Isaac W. Hughes, died in 18^6. 

Win. H. Irwin, Woodward. 

John F. Joice. died July 23, '63. 

Garrett L. Joice, captured at Pleasant Hill. 

Levi Jones, discharged Nov. 16, '63. Ogden. 

Thomas Kelly, died April 26, '63 at Bloomtield, 
Missouri. 

Henry C, Kirkendall, died at Duvall's Bluff. 
Sept. 1, 1863. 

John W. Kirkendall. Lohrville. 

John W. Kearby, severely wounded at Bayou 
Metoe, August 27, '63, and discharged because of 
wounds, August, 13, '64. Lives at Woodward. 

Joseph H. Kinkead. 

Charles Lefferts. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 451 

Wm. 13. Lantoo, killed at Pleasant Hill. 
Abbott Lee, Cloverdale, Kan. 
John W. Landers, Missouri Valley. 

Gustus Linn, captured at Pleasant Hill. Is a 
farmer and lives near Dayton. 

Wm. P. Leonard. 

Wm. B. Lawton, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Zachariah S. McOall, died at Little Rock, Oct. 
15, 1863. 

Isaac N. W. Mahaffey, Burr Oak, Kan. 

John H. Merrick, wounded at Pleasant Hill. 

Wm. V. Manchester, Burnside. 
Arch. McDonald. 
John W. McFarling, Boone. 
J. J. Moriarty, Souix Rapids. 
Thomas Meyers, Boone. 

Edward O. Nutt, discharged March 15, '63. 

William Nelson. 

Jones W. Nelson, died at Woodward in 1892. 

John W. Overman, died June 10, '63, 

Wm. M. Peoples, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Peter Peterson, Madrid. 

Yons Peterson, discharged Oct. 4, '63. 

Thomas Payne, Boone. 

Josiah B. Patterson, Boone. 

Sharon A. Paxton, died at Brownsville, Sept. 
14, 1863. 

D. U. Parker, Jefferson. 

O. B. Pettit, Panora. 

Robert C. Petty. 

James Shuffling, died at Little Rock, Sept. 25, '63. 



452 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Jedediah L. Starr, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

John Segrin, Madrid. 

Thomas H. Spickelmire, wounded at Pleasant 
Hill and died at Memphis July 1, '64, 

Elias D. Strunk, transferred for promotion to 
colored troops. 

William Stover, wounded at Little Red River. 
Lives at Miller, S. D. 

Henry Sussong. La Porte City. 

Rufus L. St. Johns, Eldora. 

Harvey M. St. Johns, Eldora. 

L. D. Smith, Newbern. 

Thomas B. Thomson, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Martin Tappin, died at Mound City, July 16, '64. 

Spencer R. Williams, died at Brownsville, Sept. 
5, 1868. 

Samuel B. Williams, severely wounded at Bayou 
Metoe. He was detailed in some of the convalescent 
hospitals; was assigned to the Veteran Reserve 
Corps, and had an interesting army experience. He 
is an enthusiastic Republician and a loyal citizen. 
Lives in Aiba, Jasper county, Mo. 

Richard S. Williams, wounded at Little Rock. 
Lives at Centerville, Ore. 

John E. R. Wright, on his retnrn from absence 
on furlough, as told by Dooley his brother-in-law, 
was captured between Little Rock and Benton. In a 
short time his captors sent him in for exchange. He 
was killed at Pleasant Hill 

Calvin M. J. Walker. 

James W. Webster, died at Memphis, July 10, '64. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



45; 



Appoximate Roster or Company E. 



John R. Jones was mustered as Captain Oct. G. 
1862. Though commissioned Major in August, 
1865, he was the only Captain de facto of the 
Company. [See page 400.] 




Capt. John R, Jones. 

Alor.zo Converse was First Lieutenant from 
muster-in to muster out. He was at times detailed 
on responsible duties, and made a good record in 
each position. In civil life he represented his dis- 



454 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

trict in the Iowa State Senate. He removed to Da- 
kota, and his last known residence was in or near 
Letcher, S. D. He was commissioned Captain Aug- 
ust 23, 1865. 

John F. Wright was Second Lieutenant during 
his entire term of service, and was mustered out as 
such, though he had a commission of promotion of 
date August 23, 1865. He was severely wounded and 
left in hospital at Pleasant Hill. He died at his 
home at Shell Rock in 1893. 

This Company had the unique experience of 
carrying its line officers without change during the 
entire term of service. 

Wm. H. Guy was mustered in as Fourth Ser- 
geant, by promotion became First Sergeant, and was 
commissioned Second Lieutenant, but was not mus- 
tered as such. 

He removed to Kansas, where he has been a 
highly useful and and respected citizen; sustaining a 
character worthy of the 32nd Iowa in various official 
positions, notably that of Superintendent of Schools. 
His home is at Grenola, Kan. His capture at Pleas- 
ant Hill and escape a few days thereafter are noted 
elsewhere. 

Samuel German was First Sergeant when the 
Company was mustered in. He was discharged for 
disability August 15, 1864. 

Marshall Kelly, Second Sergeant, died at New 
Madrid, Dec. 21, 1862. 

Ovid Hare, Sergeant, lived at Storm Lake but 
has removed. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 455 

Edward A. Glenn, Sergeant, lives at Souix City. 

Samuel E. Hay den, promoted Sergeant, died at 
Columbus, July 13, 1863. 

Wm. M. Martin, Corporal. 

Alexander March, Corporal. Died in ]890. 

Wesley H. Long, Coporal, died at New Orleans, 
April 27, 'G4. 

Clark Speedy, Corporal, discharged for disabil- 
ity June 16, '63. Died. 

Robert Stanly, Corporal, lives at Shell Rock. 

Albert O. Royce, Corporal. 

Robert In man, Corporal. 

Jacob H. Hickle, promoted Corporal, Clarksville. 

Wm. H. Burham, Musician, Soldiers' Home. 

John Burham, Musician. Grand River. 

Nathan Olmstead, teamster, discharged May 5, 
1863. Died at New Hartford, 1888. 

James Acherson, died at Memphis. June 6, '64. 

L. J. Ackerman, New Hartford. 

Elias D. Allbright, Shell Rock. 

Elias B. Allensworth, killed at Lake Chicot, 
June 6. 1864. 

Joseph Aspey. wounded and captured at Pleas- 
ant Hill. 

Mordecai B. Broque, Shell Rock. 

John W. Blass, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

E. W. Blackman, wounded and captured at 
Pleasant Hill. A merchant at Panora. 

Anson Blackman, died at Nashville, March 3, '65. 



456 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Ebbert L. Blackman, died of wounds at Pleasant 
Hill, June 12, 64. 

George Bolton, New Hartford. 

Albert H. Bookman, discharched March 20, 1865 
at New Orleans. 

Eli S. Burgess, died at Fort Pillow, March 7, '63. 

Francis Brannick, discharged Oct. 11, 1863, 

Henry Billhimer, Clarksville. 

John N. Conner, captured at Pleasant Hill. 
Lives in Wisconsin. 

Oliver Codner, captured at Pleasant Hill. Lives 
at Parkersburg. 

George G. Codner, 
James N. Churchill. 
Henry C. Collins. 

L. Dow Clayton, wounded and captured at Pleas- 
ant Hill. Died at New Hartford, 1892. 

Frederick J. Carter, killed at Pleasaut Hill. 

Geo. R. Copland. 

Levi H. Chaffin, South Dakota. 

Abram H. Dunning, transferred to Invalid Corps, 
Sept..l, 1863. New Hartford. 

Mordecai Dodge, died at Columbus of small-pox, 
March 5, 1864. 

John Dickisson. 

N. W. Davis, Hamburg. 

Wm. H. Dunning, discharged July 29, 1865 at 
Montgomery. 

Richard F. Ede, discharged Jan. 27, '63. Edge- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 457 

wood or Greely. 

Theodore H. Ferris, died at Fort Pillow, April 
26, 1863. 

Francis G. Foster, Waverly. 

Wm. Flood, Shell Rock. 

Jacob G. Fulsom. 

Wm. E. Fugue, discharged July 24, '64. 

John W. Griffith, Canton, S. D. 

Mathew Hartman, wounded at Nashville, Dec. 16, 
'63. Discharged July 19, '65. 

David M. Henderson, died March 12, 1865 at 
Davenport. 

Moses Hedrick. 

Robert W. Hannont, Shell Rock. 

James N. Howard, capturad at Pleasant Hill. 
Lives at Crab Orchard. 

Calvin Hall, Parkersburg. 

Elijah Hites, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Thomas Houck, Marshalltown. 

Isaac High, Janesville. 

N. R. Hough, died at Vicksburg, June 4, 1864. 

Judd D. Hoinback. 

Nathan Jones. 

Henry O. Jones, captured at Pleasant Hill 

Lyman D. Jones, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Albert W. Joslen, died at Memphis, Mar. 19, '64. 

Hinkley G. Knight. 

Geo. W. Kimmel, died at Ft. Pillow, Mar. 8, '63. 

Z. F. Kimmel, died at Ft. Pillow, April 5, '63. 

Henry B. King. 

Isaac N. Kitterman, captured at Pleasant Hill. 

Wm. H. Ketcham. 



458 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT • 

James P. Leverich, wounded and captured at 
Pleasant Hill. 

John B. Langdon. 569 Banning St, Los Angeles. 
California. 

Charles Lewis, captured at Pleasant Hill, and 
died at Tyler, Texas, Sept. 16, 1864. 

Wilbert L. Lewis, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

William Martch, Fredericksburg. 

Rollin P. Mead, wounded at Pleasant Hill; arm 
taken off at the shouldier. Discharged Sept. 4, '64. 
Lives on his farm one mile North of Aplington. 

Charles E. Mix, discharged March 15, '65. Died 
in California. 

Wm. N. Mix, lives at Vacaville, Cal. 

Edward A. Morse, died at Memphis. July 9, '64, 

O. S. Newcomb, captured at Pleasant Hill. Is a 
long time merchant at Shell Rock. 

P. O. Needham, Acampa, Cal. 

Edward S. Needham, wounded at Pleasant Hill. 
Lives at Lake Preston, S. D. 

Robert L. Olmstead, died of wounds at Pleasant 
Hill, April 20, 1864. 

Wallace W. Olmstead, captured at Pleasant 
Hill. 

Theodore Olmstead, discharged Mar. 5, 1863.. 
Lives at Aekley. 

Orrin P. Olmstead, wounded at Pleasant HilL 
Lives at New Hartford. 

Franklin E. Orvis, Shell Rock. 
. W. A. Orvis, New Hartford. 

Delos Patten, killed at Pleasant Hill. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 459 

Jasper Parriot, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Josiah Peck, McGregor. 

Daniel G. Plummer, Wounded at Pleasant Hill. 
Died at Now Hartford in 1888. 

J. W. PI u miner, Hartford. 

Fletcher C. Putman, wounded at Pleasant Hill. 

John Qui m by. 

James W. Quinn, wounded at Pleasant Hill. 
Lives at Aplington, Iowa, or Pratt, Kansas. 

Alfred Robbins, Castana. 

Benjamin Roberts, discharged May 5, '63. 

Myron Rockwell, New Hartford. 

Amos O. Royce. 

James M. Rosebrough, died at Vicksburg, May 
24, 1864. 

John C. Sumner. Grand Junction. Col. 

George Sowash, died in 1892 at Nevada. 

Wm. Stockdale, died at Mound City, Mar. 4, '64. 

John Sperry, Richardson, San Juan Co., Wash. 

James N. Sperry, died at Vicksburg, Feb. 8, '64. 

James Smith, died at Columbus, July 24, "63. 

Henry Thomas, died at Fort Pillow, Mar. 4. 63. 

Jesse Turner. 

Samuel B. Whitney, 

Ezra S. Wilson, died at Fort Pillow, May, 19, '53. 

Austin Wilcox, discharged at Mound City, April 
3, '64. Lives at Clarksville. 

Solomon Wheeler, wounded at Pleasant Hill. 
Lives at Clarion. 

Julius A. Waters, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

George H. Williams, wounded and captured at 
Pleasant Hill. Lives at Algona. 

George E. Zelmer. 



460 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



Appoximate Eoster of Company F. 



Joseph Edgington was commissioned and mus- 
tered as Captain, Oct. 7, 1862. He served as such 
until he was honorably discharged, Oct. 15, 1861. 
His home is and has been for forty years, Eklora. 
Iowa. 

Lucius E. Campbell entered service as Second 
Lieutenant; was promoted Captain, Nov. 18, 1864; and 
was discharged at Montgomery, July 2, 1865. His 
address is Union Stock Yards, Chicago, where he is 
engaged as a commission merchant. 

Ezekicl Kilgore was promoted First Lieutenant 
from First Sergeant, Dec. 2, 1864. He was commis- 
sioned Captain, August 23, 1865, but was mustered 
out as Lieutenant. He is said to live at Lake City, 
Iowa. 

John Devine entered service as First Lieutenant. 
He was seyerely wounded (leg amputated) and left 
in the hands of the enemy at Pleasant Hill. 
Through an indomitable will, dressing his fly blown 
wounds, he recovered and was honorably discharged 
August 30, 1864. He died at Albion, Oct. 30, 1887. 

J. M. Boyd, to whom the Comrades are so much 
indebted for his labors in the preparation of matter 
for this History, entered the service as Fourth Ser- 
geant. He became First Sergeant by promotion,' and 
was commissioned as First Lieutenant August 23, 
1865, but was not mustered as such. After his re 
turn from the army he was an influential citizen, dis- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 461 

charging the duties of public offices to which lie was 
called, and died at Eldora in 1893. [See portrait, 
page 58.] 

Alanson F. Wood was mustered in as Corporal, 
and by promotion had the grade of Second Sergeant 
when he was discharged for disability at Montgom- 
ery, July 13, '65. His commission for promotion to 
Second Lieutenant was sent, but did not reach him 
until after his discharge. He is a prominent citizen 
and business man of Union, Hardin county, which has 
long been his home. 

James Underwood was mustered in as Second 
Sergeant, and was transferred July 11, 1863 for pro- 
motion to "First Lieutenant in Company H, 56th 
Regiment U. S. (Colored) Troops." It is understood 
that his services in that command were valuable, and 
that he was noted for his kindly sympathies with 
those under his charge. He lives at Grand Junction, 
Iowa. 

Oscar D. Royer, Sergeant. * * * * 

Charles Lane, Sergeant, transferred to Invalid 
Corps. Afterwards discharged for disability. Lives 
at Deer Creek, Minn. 

Solon F. Benson, promoted Sergeant, wounded 
at Pleasant Hill, arm amputated; discharged Oct.. 8, 
1864. Lives in Kansas. 

Andrew J. Hadden, Corporal, discharged for 
disability, and died at Steamboat Rock soon after 
his return home. 

Austin W. Caldwell, promoted Sergeant, severe- 
ly wounded and left on the field at Pleasant Hill. 
He was captured and taken to Tyler, and as he was 



462 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT, 



known to be shot in the head was reported as • 'prob- 
ably killed." He lives at Iowa Falls. Had his leg- 
amputated above the knee after his discharge. Has 
been County Recorder. 

Loyal Griffin, promoted Corporal, was severely 
wounded in the Oxford raid, August 24. 1864, near 




Alanson R Wood. 

Waterford, and discharged May 16, 1865, at Daven- 
port. He is now 70 years of age, enjoying the cli- 
mate and surroundings of Ogden. Utah, where his 
sons are in business. He still remembers most 
kindly Maulsbv's dry jokes and Hartinger's sweet 
songs, as well as many incidents of camp and field,. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



463 



including "Billy Bovvers and the owl on picket." [See 
portrait.] 

Augustus Mitterer, Corporal, was discharged at 
Little Rock, Feb. 18, '64. He was a farmer and died 
at Hubbard in 1893. 




Lt. James Underwood. 

Calvin M. Say re, Corporal, died at Little Rock, 
Oct. 21, "6:-i. 

Ira G. Wing-, Corporal, Silverton, Gol. 

John W. Holmes, Corporal. Returned after 

muster out, and died at Iowa Palls in 1877. 

Francis M. Foster, promoted Corporal, discharg- 



464 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

ed Feb. 10, '63. Died at Steamboat Rock. 

Newton Jones, Musician, discharged June 1. '65. 
Lives at Iowa Falls. 

Chauncy D. Todd, promoted Musician, Boulder 
City. Col. 




Loyal Griffin. 

George Macy, Muiscian, wounded in line 
of duty while foraging, and died of wounds, 
Sept. 10. '63, at Brownsville, Ark. 

Ira G. Christian, teamster, died Oct. 18, '63. 

Nathan R. Austin, died Sept. 26, '63. 

Enoch C. Austin, transferred to Invalid Corps. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 465 

Sept. 25, '63. . Hubbard, Iowa, 

DeWitt Aiken, deserted Oct. 8, '02. 

J. P. Ash, died at Minneapolis, Kan., July 1869, 

James Barrett, Yocum, Carroll Co., Ark. 

Loren Button, Dows, Iowa. 

Win. J. Bowers, promoted Corporal, Eldora. 

Wilson Boyd, died at Brownsville, Sept. 14, '63. 

Thomas C. Bond, a farmer near Central City, 
Linn county. 

Nathan Bum, Gardner. 

Thos. A. Christy, d i sch arged Nov. 16, '63. Lives 
at Vermillion, S. D. 

T. B. Currier. 

Win. I!, Champlin. severely wounded, died at 
Pleas-ant Bill, May 21, '64. 

11. D. Cantonwine, died at Brownsville, Sept. 8, 
1863. 

Win. H. Cowan, died at Memphis, May 21. 1864. 

Abraham Cundert, transferred to Invalid Corps. 
Lives at Wichita, Kan. 

John M. Cox, transferred to Invalid Corps. 
Lives at Gilford. 

Edwin p. Coombs, transferred to Company C, 
lived at one time at Peterson. 

Luther Couch, wounded at Pleasant Hill, died at 
Shell Rock. 

George A. Demander was transferred to Com 
pany H. [See roster of H.] 

A. J. Estabrook, died at Memphis, May 22, '64. 



466 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

H. J. Edgerton. died at New Orleans, May 5, '65. 

James Fleming-. 

Charles Fleming, Humboldt, Iowa. 

Francis M. Foster, discharged Feb. 10, 1863, and 
died at Steamboat Rock. 

Robert Griffin, on Canadian Pacific Railway. 

James C. Gordon, Kansas. 

Edgar A. Giles, transferred to Company C. Lives 
at Garfield, Wash. 

James C. Gordon, Independence, Kan. 

Joseph W. Hiday, Alfonte, Madison Co., Ind. 

Marvin W. How- 
land, discharged 
Feb. 12, 1864. Lives 
at Eagle Groove. 

John Leary. died 
near Point Pleasant. 

Thomas Lacock, 
discharged Feb. 12, 
1864. 

Zephaniah Lane, 
Blount, 111. 

Wm. H. Latham, 
died at Memphis, 
July 3, 1864. 

M. W. HOWLAND. 

James Hartinger, Alden. 

Jason House, died at Davenport, Aug. 24, 1865. 

Elijah Hayden, discharged Nov. 16. '63. Lives 




IOWA VOLUNTEERS 467 

at Eldora. 

Hanson H. Harlan, died near Eldora, July 29,'67. 

James T. Leech, Preewater, Harlan Co., Neb. 

George Lepley, Union. 

William Lepley, Union. 

Aley Moon, derserted, Oct. 8, '62. 

Samuel Mossman, Hubbard. 

Thomas Millslagle, died at Eldora, from injuries 
received in the Nashville campaign. 

Robert Millslagle, died at Nashville, Dec. 17, '64. 

Martin V. B. Maulsby, last known residence, 
Howland, Putman Co., Mo. 

Isaac H. Macy was left sick at Dubuque, and 
died Dec. 5, 1862; and thought to be the first death 
in the Company. He was buried at Iowa Palls, 

Alfred McHenry, Cleburn. Texas. 

John R. Myers, killed in battle at Bayou de 
Glaize. 

Win. W. Mcintosh, discharged Oct. 6, '64. Lives 
at Albany, Mo. 

Nathan R. Modlin, captured, at Pleasant 
Hill, died at Tyler, Sept. 5, 1864, from exposure 
and hardship in rebel prison. 

Samuel S. Martin, transferred to Company C. 
Lives at White Lake. 

Robert H. Murphy, discharged at Montgomery. 
Died at Ackley. 

Wm. Nutt, died at Memphis, June 24. '64. 

George B. Nelson. 



468 THIRTY SECONTD REGIMENT 

Thomas Perdue. Beaver Crossing, Seward 
county, Neb. 

Asher W. Park, died at Steamboat Rock, of 
wounds received at Holly Springs. 

Moses Pierce, died July 14, T>4, at Cairo. 

Adam L. Rickard, Rickard P. O . Hardin Co. 

James Reed, Union. 

John Rinehart, Iowa Falls. 

James Rock, deserted Nov. 10, '02. 

Ezra D. Rogers, discharged Oct. 4, "63. Lives 
at Nemaha, Neb. 

James Royal, killed at Pleasant I fill. 

John L. Sayre. died at Little Rock, Dec. 23, '63. 

John Snider, a carpenter, at the age of 3.'! was 
mustered in; and at. the end of the march will) 
Davidson's calvary, was one of the six men in the 
Four Companies who reported for duty. But the 
unnecessary hardships of such a march were too 
much for him, and he is completely broken in health, 
living at Goldfield. 

Jared W. Sumner, Stella, Neb. 
John Spurlin, discharged *Jan. 13, '64. Died at 
Liscomb. 

Levi Spurlin, died at Keokuk, Nov. 10, 1^64. 

Wm. H. Spurlin, died at Brownsville, Sept. 6, '63'. 

George Spurlin, died at St. Louis, Feb. 19, 1863. 

Chandler W. Scott, Nevada, Mo. 

Davis Sellers, Beloit, Kansas. 

Jesse Shultz, died at Little Rock, Oct. 14, '63. 

Wm. H. Sawyer, wounded in the hip at Yellow 



TOWA VOLUNTEERS 469 

Bayou. Guide Rock, Nebraska. 

Jonas R. Underwood, dis. Aug. 30, 1864. Died in 
Illinois. 

David S. Valentine, Union. 

Jas. H.Valentine, 2003. S. 10 St., Lincoln, Neb. 
Theodore S. Walter, Bentonville, Ark. 
Sebastian L. Weiland. La Grange, Ky. 

Samuel M. Woodard, died at Dell Rapids, S. D., ! 
prior to 3887. 

Joseph A. Wilson, died at Gifford, in 1888. 
Timothy Wickham, Cedar Rapids. 

William O. Wickham, captured between Little 
Rock and Benton. Iowa Falls. 

J. Henry Williams, Steamboat Rock. 
Alfred D. Walker, Kansas. 

George Winans, discharged April 11, 1864. Lives 
at Goldfield. 

R. S. Wardwell, Steamboat Rock. 

S. B. Wells, Fort Madison. 

Wm. H. Wright, San Francisco, Cal. 

Marcel lus Yaw, Kansas. 

Ossello Yaw r , Kansas. 



470 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



Approximate Roster of Company G. 



This Company with A, D and F, constituted the 
detachment of four Companies that saw severe ser- 
vice in Arkansas and south east Missouri. In a brief 
review of these experiences, twenty years after they 
closed. Comrade Boyd wrote:- "Oar dead lie in seven 
different states. The living are now widely scattered, 
and have homes in fifteen states and territories, of 
which I have knowledge. We traversed nine states 
besides Iowa. We traveled on more than twenty 
steamers, on eleven different rivers, and on war ves- 
sels and coast and ocean steamers on the bays and 
Gulf of Mexico." 

The ''casualties'' so briefly noted in these Rosters 
give but little<idea of the hardships, sufferings and 
dangers of these campaigns, and of the deaths that 
have occurred because of them. The word "dis- 
charged" written on a muster roll may mean that the 
soldier came to his home for restored health. It may 
also mean that even the sad hope that he might die 
under the roof that sheltered his family was doomed 
to disappointment. Many never reached their 
homes but died in hospitals, or by the way. Such 
are the fortunes of war! Some lived for years, dying 
by inches; others still live, broken in health, every 
hope shattered, with hourly reminders oT the experi- 
ences of thirty years ago. 

Charles A. L. Roszell entered the service as 
Captain; was commissioned and mustered October 6 r 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 471 

1862, and was mustered out in the same rank at the 
end of the three-years term. He was a lawyer in 
Clarksville. and returned to his profession, which he 
still sustains, and lives in his former home. 

Charles A. Ban nan, was mustered as First Lieu- 
tenant, and held the same rank until muster-out. He 
subsequently removed to Kansas City, where he died. 
He w 7 as wounded at Pleasant Hill; was a meritorious 
and capable officer, an esteemed comrade and gentle- 
man. 

Daniel Haine was Second Lieutenant, and resign 
ed May 8, 1863. 

William L. Carpenter was promoted Second Lieu- 
tenant from Third Sergeant, May 8, 1863; and Ad- 
jutant from October 15, 1864. [See page 404.] 

William A. Keister, First Sergeant, lives at 
Greene. Butler Connty. 

William Poisall, Sergeant, was discharged at 
Cape Girardeau, October 4. 1863. 

Tyler Blake, Sergeant, discharged Jan. 9, 1864, 
at Little Rock. 

Azael Straun, Sergeant. 

Isaiah Carter, Corporal, died at Duvall's Bluffs, 
August 24, 1863. 

Roselle W. Kane, promoted Sergeant, killed at 
Pleasant Hill. 

George McClellan, promoted Sergeant, drowned 
at St. Louis, November 26, 1864 

James Butler, promoted Sergeant, wounded at 
Pleasant Hill, discharged at Davenport, October 5, 
1864. 



472 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

John McCain. Corporal, died at Brownsville, Sep- 
tember 12. 1863. 

Ansel D. Weeks. Corporal, died at Dubuque, 
November 13. 1862. 

Timothy W. Folgar, Corporal, died of wounds 
at Pleasant Hill, May 4, 1864. 

Daniel W. Kinsley, Corporal, discharged Nov. 
16, 1863. 

Uriah Farlow, Corporal, died July 1. 1854, 

Emanuel Surf us, Corporal, died Nov. 5, 1862. 

Geo. H. Burton, Corporal, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

DeWitt C. Harrison, Corporal, wounded at Pleas- 
ant Hill. Lives at Clarksville. 

Geo. L. Allen, Corporal, wounded at Pleasant 
Hill Lives at Iowa Falls. 

Albert Boggs. Corporal, wounded at Pleasant 
Hill. Lives at Greene. 

Horace G. Hawks, Musician, wounded and cap- 
tured at Pleasant Hill. Lives nt Marble Rock. 

Wilson Achison, Musician. 

John Kush Brown, teamster, wounded at Pleas- 
ant Hill. 

Benjamin Anderson died at Bristow. 

Sylvester E. Allen, died at Brownsville, Sep- 
tember 26, 1863. 

William V. Allen, lives at Madison, Nebraska. 
Was Judge of the District Court; is now (1896) in the 
U. S. Senate. [See page 152.] 

Sylvester W. Bragg, captured at Pleasant Hill. 
Lives at Nora Springs. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 473 

Sylvester M. Boon, died at Cape Girardeau, Jan- 
uary 3, 1863. 

Warren Boon, Marble Rock. 

Sidney W. Boon, lives at Marble Rock. 

James H. Boon, died at Little Rock, September 
26, 1863. 

Stephen G. Bell. 

William C. Bishop, wounded at Pleasant Hill, 
Discharged May 11, 1865. 

Joseph Bnbcock, died of wounds at Pleasant Hill, 
June 5, 1864. 

Henry Brooks, wounded at Pleasant Hill. 
Discharged February 24, 1865. Lives at Armstrong. 
David BeeLle, Clarksville. 
James L. Belcher, discharged Aug. 3, 1864. 
Harvey A. Bishop, died prior to 1891. 
Phineas Clawson, died at Memphis, June 5, 1864. 

William R. Cave, discharged May 4, 1865. Lives 
at Clarksville. 

Michael Cline, captured at Bloomfield; wounded 
at Pleasant Hill. 

William Comstock, wounded and left at Pleasant 
Hill. Lives at Marble Rock. 

James H. Carter, lives at Vinton. 

Wilbur C. Closson. Manson. 

Mortimer O. Clark, Nebraska. 

Daniel N. Clark, wounded at Pleasant Hill. Lives 
in Nebraska. 

Aaron Doty, discharged at Cape Girardeau. Oct- 
ober 9. 1863. Minnesota. 

Nathaniel W. Davis, wounded at Pleasant Hill. 



474 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Josiah Doekstader, discharged Nov. 16, 1863. 

Andrew J. Ellis, wounded at Pleasant Hill. 

John C. Forney, Olarksville. 

George Farlow. 

Leander Farlow. Forest City. 

James M. Goodhue, discharged March 8, 1863. 

Samuel N. Goodhue, discharged Dec. 29, 1863. 
Marion. 

Nathaniel B. Gleason, died of wounds at Pleasant 
Hill. April 21, 1864. 

James Gillman. Harlan. 
Seth H. Graves. 

Aaron M. Harter, transferred to Veteran Reserve 
Corps. Waterloo. 

William T. Hall, died at Helena, September 17, '63.. 

James L. Hardman, died about 1887. 
Bayliss Hough, discharged June 26, 1865. 
G. H. Hawks, Marble Rock. 

Richard Keller, transferred to Veteran Reserve 
Corbs. Lives at Clarksville. 

John Lenhart, discharged March 8, 1863. Lives at 
Clarksville. 

Jacob Leyditf, died July 20, 1864. 
Washington Lenhart, Edgley, North Dakota. 
Thomas Martin. 

A. W. Maffit, in the grain trade. Belle Plaine. 
Believes he was the youngest boy in the regiment. 

Francis M. Miller, died Jan. 20. 1863. 

Elias G. Miller, died Dec. 12. 1863. 

George G. Miller, Briscoe. 

Isaac N. Modlin, wounded at Pleasant Hill. Dis- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 47") 

charged June 14, 1865. Lives at Burr Oak, Kansas. 

James M. Miller. 
William Muffler. 

Jehu Phillippi, killed at Pleasant Hill. 
Hiram Poisall, wounded at Pleasant Hill. Dis- 
charged Feb. 11. 1865. Lives at Clarksville. 

Geo. C. Poisall, wounded at Pleasant Hill. Lives 
at Mason City. 

James M. Phillippi, wounded at Pleasant Hill. 
Discharged May 28, 1865. Teaching Indians to make 
harness. 

Joel Phillips. 

Benjamin Raines, Clarksville. 

Henry Smith. 

Jabez Straun. 

Solomon Sturtz, died at Vicksburg, June 6, 1864. 

Michael Sturtz, died at Little Rock Nov. 3, 1863. 

. Adam Sturtz, died of wounds at Pleasant Hill, 
May 22, 1864. 

John D. Swim, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Nicholas Straun. 

John Spoar, died Aug. 4, 1864. 

James M. Sheffer, died at Memphis, July 10, '64. 

Chas. N. Thomas, Albion. 

John P. Upps, Kansas. 

Daniel D. Warner, wounded at Pleasant Hill. 

Martin V. Wamsley, died of wounds at Pleasant 
Hill, June 26, 1864. 

O. P. Whitted, discharged July 20, 1865. 

Baltzer Witter, captured at Pleasant Hill, died 
at Tyler Texas, Sep. 3, 1864. 

Lewis J. Whitted, transferred to Company B. 



476 



rilli; r\ SECONT) RE05IMEN l" 



\riT.o\tv \ it R.0STEB OF COM PAN1 II 



James B, Reeve, formerlv County Judge, of 
Maysville, Franklin county; was mustered as Cap 
tain October t ; . 1862. He died of congestive fever at 
Port Pillow. June 24, 1864. 




Capt, K. S. Benson, 
Rufus s. Benson was promoted Captain from 
Second Lieutenant, and served as such until the 
Regiment was mustered out He was afterwards 
County Treasurer of Franklin county, a banker; and 
row lives at 1232 Michisrau Aw.. Kansas City, Mo. 



iovva vi > 1. 1 :,"i i . i ,i- 



177 



||c has ranch interests in Texas which require his 
residence and attention n portion of the year 

Orlando A, Leah was mustered with the Com 
pany ;»s First Lieutenant, and resigned April 20, '64, 
He lives al Aspinwall, Nebraska. 

James II. Hall was promoted from Pirsl Sergeant 
to Second Lieutenant, .June '^."i, 1868, and to Pirsl 
Lieutenant April 21, IHM. He is now (1S96) County 
Auditor, and livesal Bants Ana, California, 

| No 1 1 : The compiler has not been furnished any 
data in reference to the individual members of tin 
Company other than thai round in the several re 
ports of the Adjutiml General to winch he has 
access, The mere list of names and easualities fur 
insh hui meager material for such a history and per 
sonal mention as was contemplated.] 

John B. Nelson, Sergeant. 

Bartley Meehan Sergeant, ''reduced to rani 
Killed at Pleasanl Hill. 

Benjamin II. Pound, promoted Sergeant, wound 
ed severely al Pleasanl Hill. Died of dropsy of the 
heart al Pish River, Ala., March 23, L865. 

W'm. Wood, promoted Sergeant, died ;>' Mem 
phis, Jujy 27, 1 86 1. 

John s. I iove, Sergea nl . 

GardnerS. Merriss, promoted Sergeant, died al 
Memphis, April I 1, l 365 

John C. Avery, promoted Sergeant, discharged 
al Montgomery, June 26; 1865 Lived lome pears 
since al ECansn ( lity, Mo 

.John Nichols, ( lorporal. 

Elihu B. Criley, promoted Corporal, (rounded al 



478 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Pleasant Hill, right arm amputated, discharged Nov. 
24, 1864, at Pittsburg, Penn. 

Corporal Criley was wounded in both arms in the 
battle of April 9, 1864, was taken prisoner, "got away 
with two rebels" and still lives as a man of active 
business in Real Estate, Loans and Insurance in the 
city of Ottumwa, having associated a son with himself. 

Cyrus Wyatt, Corporal, "'reduced to ranks" Jan. 
22, 1863. 

Alpheus Jones, promoted Corporal, discharged 
at Island Ten, Oct. 29, 1863. In list of casualties, 
name given as "Adolpheus" 

Wm. S. Hansberry, Corporal, "reduced to ranks" 
Is a farmer near Aspinwall, Neb. 

John B. Woodward, promoted Corporal, died of 
wounds at Pleasant Hill, April 12, 1864. 

Louis P. Berry, Corporal, severely wounded at 
Pleasant Hill. 

Henry A. Clock, Corporal, is a merchant at 
Hampton. 

Joseph Ward, Corporal, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Washington Ballou, promoted Corporal, killed 
at Pleasant Hill. 

George W. Ross, promoted Corporal, killed at 
Pleasant Hill. 

Lucian M. Stoddard, Musician, promoted to Drum 
Major. Discharged June 26, 1865. Iowa Falls. 

Elijah Jones, Musician. 

Miles Birkett, promoted Mnsician. Ellsworth, 
Minnesota. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



479 



Daniel E. Greeley, teamster. 

David C. Allen, discharged at Fort Pillow, 
March. 19. 1863. Lives at Blair, Neb. 

Charles J. Anderson. 

Curtis M. Armstrong, discharged at Fort Pillow, 
March 19, 1863. 

James Antry, died at Memphis, July 8, 1864. 

George Antry. 

John D. Baker, killed by Guerillas at Island No. 
Ten. Oct, 22. 1863. 

Samuel E. Baker, Neligh, Neb. 

William Ball, died at Columbus. Feb. 2, 1864. 

Cyrus Boyles, died at Fort Pillow, April 1, 186:'- 

John J. Bradshaw, Correctionville. 

Albert H. Bridgeman. 

Albert R. Beecher. 

Jacob Brooks, Sibley. 

H. A. Brotherton. died at Dubuque. Nov. 4, 1862. 

Charles Bullis, died at Kingsley, 1894. 

German Bullis, discharged December 6, 1864. 

Lives at Dows. 

Tirk Bihuken. 

Joseph G. Bushyhager, Sheffield. 

Ebenezer Caldwell, discharged, July 22, 1863. 
Lives at Hampton. 

Daniel W. Cole, killed at Pleasant Hill, 
Seth K. Capron, died at Memphis. March 4, 1865. 
Peter Considine, died at Keokuk, Dec. 5, 1862. 
Oliver Clenismith, died at Ft, Pillow, Apr. 29, '63. 
Loren Collins, died at Mound City, May 4. 1864. 
Henry Creighton, died at Memphis, May 17, '64. 



480 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

E. W. Crosby, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Levi Culver, is a retired farmer. Lives at Sheffield. 

Marion Creed. 

Solomon Creighton, Hampton. 

William G. Chambers, died at Vicksburg, Feb. 
22, 1864. 

Nelson S. Demander, died at Iowa Palls since 
the war. 

George A. Demander was shot in the eye at 
Pleasant Hill, left on the field for dead and was re- 
ported as having been killed in that battle. He sur- 
vived but never regained either his normal physical 
or menial conditions. At times he was unable to care 
for himself and needed restraint as well as care, but 
was permitted to wander from place to place. He 
is said finaily to have died in the National Soldiers' 
Home at Washington, D. C. 

Geo. W. Frey, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Joseph Ferguson, died at Vicksbug, May 28,'r64. 

Isaac Grandon, discharged Sep. 5, 1863. 

Andrew J. Gray, cook. 

David L. Hartgrave, died July 29, 1864. 

Samuel W. Hartwell, discharged May 30, 1863. 
Lives at New Hampton. 

Thomas J. Herman, died May 28, 1864. 

Stephen Hesse, died at Fort Pillow, Feb. 9, '63; 

And. J. Hoisington, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Benj. F. Horner, discharged August 28, 1863. 

Wm. C. Horner, Geneva. 

Jesse Horner, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Harvey Hubbert. 

Dr. John S. Hurd. has resumed his profession 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 481 

and is a leading physician at Chapin. 

German L. Hunt. 

Samuel B. Hunt, died at Vicksburg, Feb. 2, "64. 

Wm. N. Ingraham. Central City, Neb. 

Alexander Jones. 

J. C. Jones, Geneva. 

Isaac Justus, discharged April 25, 1864. Lives 
at Hampton. 

Warren Kittell, died at Memphis, July 17. 1864. 

Asa R. Lee. 

Ralph A. Lord, died at Memphis, Feb. 15. 1865. 

Joseph M. Loveland. 

William May. 

Reuben McVey, is a prosperous miller in Aspin- 
wall. Neb. 

Harrison McCord, discharged March 19, 1863. 

Ira McCord, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Arba A. Merriss, killed in battle at Lake Chicot, 
June 6, 1864. 

Andrew Mitchell. 

Wm. R. C. Mitchell, died of wounds at Fort 
Gaines, April 30, 1865. 

Thomas Morris, 

John Murphy, transferred to Veteran Reserve 
Corps. 

John Meehan, discharged March 15, 1864. Lives 
at Hampton. 

T. J.McCurley. 

Samuel McCurley, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

William C. Manifold, died at Memphis, Mch. 13, '64. 

Willard Mulkins, died at Memphis, July 24, '64. 

Isaac C. Mulkins, died at Fort Do Russy, April 
9, 1864. 



482 THIKTY SECOND REGIMENT 

John G, Neff, discharged March 22, '63. Lives; 
at Monroe. 

Daniel M. North. Latimer. 

John W. North, Latimer. 

Benjamin Nichols. 

Newton Penny, Ackley. 

Richard Penney, died at Memphis, March 10, '64. 

A. K. Phinney, severely wounded at Pleasant- 
Hill. 

David Perry, died at Memphis, July 2G, 1864. 

Solomon Robinson, transferred to Veteran Re- 
serve Corps. 

Andrew Reed. 

Leonard O. Smith. 

Clark Shobe, discharged at Fort Pillow, March 
10, 1863. 

Morgan Shobe. 

Martin Shobe, discharged at Fort Pillow. March 
10, 1863. Lincoln, Neb. 

Edmund Silence, Geneva. 

Henry W. Smith, died of wounds at Pleasant 
Hill April 23, 1864. 

Charles Schmidt. Hampton. 

Paul Stehlin. 

Nathaniel Swaney. 

Oliver H. Tilghman, Geneva. 

John P. Underwood, w 7 ounded at Pleasant Hill. 

James Walker. 

Joseph M. Wells, transferred to Veteran Reserve 
Corps. 

Josiah W. Yost, discharged at Fort Pillow, May 
4, 1863. Lives at Dayton. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 483 

Approximate Roster of Company I. 



[[n the preparation of the Roster of Company I, 
the compiler had thought to avail himself bodily of 
the valuable labors of Sergeant J. B. Williams, as 
prepared for the re union at Fort Dodge; but on 
reaching it in its place he thinks it best to follow 
the form adopted for the other Companies. The 
principal advantage in the form used is found in 
bringing the leading personal facts in the history of 
each Comrade under his own name, and mainly in 
alphabetical order, for more ready reference.] 

Jonathan Hutchinson was the first Captain, and 
continued as such until April 10, 1864, when he was 
promoted Major of the Regiment. [See page 400.] 

Alexander Dowd, was promoted Captain, from 
Second Lieutenant, April 10, 1864. He returned to 
his home near Dayton, when mustered out, and died 
some years afterward. 

Amos S. Collins, was First Lieutenant until 
transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in October, 

1864. He was promoted Captain in V. R. C. Feb. 21, 

1865. Dead. 

Ambrose Booth from Fifth Sergeant was pro- 
moted First Sergeanr, and promoted Second Lieu- 
tenant, April 11, 1864; First Lieutenant, October 14, 
1864. He died at Ft. Dodge, prior to 1887. 

James Lynn, from Corporal was promoted Ser 
geant, and promoted Second Lieutenant, October 14, 
1864. 



484 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Lorenzo S. Coffin, was First Sergeant at muster- 
in. [See page 407.] 

John H. Ford was sergeant at muster-in and was 
transferred for promotion. He lives at Garnett. Kas. 
[See Roster of Company A.] 

James B. Williams was Sergeant at muster-in. 
Because of his exceptional value in office work he 
was detailed as clerk much of the time, and served in 
various Headquarters in places cf trust and impor- 
tance. He is an expert abstracter of titles, and 
dealer in real estate at Fort Dodge. 

Benjamin B. Goodrich was promoted to First 
Sergeant. He is connected with the Pharmacy 
Hospital at Kansas City, Mo. 

Philander R. Baldwin was promoted Sergeant. 
He lives at Hammond, La. 

George T. Cass, Corporal, was discharged at. 
Columbus, Dec. 19, 1863. Lives at Humboldt. 

Edmond V. Moore, promoted Sergeant. Lives 
at Arapahoe or Benkelman, Neb. Was postmaster at. 
Benkelman in 1894. 

Levi G. C. Young, Corporal, died at Fort Dodge, 
June 29, 1864. 

George W, Hanchett, Corporal. 

Win. D. Powers, promoted Corporal. Lives at 
West Bend. 

Edward A. Flaherty, Corporal. Fort Dodge. 

James A. Rowiey, died of wounds at Pleasant- 
Hill, April 20, 1864. 

Hiram Hulsizer, promoted Corporal, discharged 
for wounds at Pleasant Hill. Died in 1890. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS l s ~> 

Geo. A. Tod, Musician, captured near Black 
River, Miss., Feb. 4, 1864. Lives at 1944 Second 
Ave, Pittsburg, Pa. 

R. M. Gwynn, Musician, dead. 

Win. McCauley. teamster, Fort Dodge. 

Celestius B. Andrews, died at Kalo, Aug. 24, '90. 
His constitution was greatly impaired by an attack 
of measles at camp Franklin. 

Cyrus D. Auyur, deserted Nov. 17, L862. Minne- 
apolis, Minn. 

Alexander D. Allison. 

W. C. Ainsworth, Ft. Dodge. 

AbnerT. Birchard, discharged for promotion as 
Quarter Master Sergeant. [See page 408.] 

James Baldridge, wounded at Tupelo, July 14, 
L864. Transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps. Lehigh. 

Samuel Baldridge, died at Ft. Pillow, June 12, '63. 

Charles R. Brown, Hull. 

James Byrne. Barnum. 

John Byrne, Barnum. 

Geo. W. Blain, died at Memphis, July 1 ( .>, 1864. 

A. J. Bond, is a resident of Denison, Iowa, and 
bis business card stales that he is a jeweler and deal- 
er in tine watches, diamonds, pianos and organs. 

Henry Booth, a son of Lt. Ambrose Booth, en- 
listed at the age of sixteen, and came to the regimens 
in January 18(54. He was on the Red River Cam- 
paign, getting his first taste of real war in the as- 
sault on FortDe Russey. 

He was transferred to the 8th Iowa; removed to 
Montgomery, Alabama, married there, has a family, 



486 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

is a republican, and his add rees is 137 Say re street. 

John F. Barnes, (John F. Byers.) 

Alexander Beach, Ft. Dodge. 

Isaac N, Baldridge, transferred to 8th la. Inf. 

Thomas J. Baldridge. transferred to 8th la. Inf 

Perry Binkley, transferred to 8th la. Inf. 

Oliver Brewer, transferred to 8th la. Inf. Died 
at Demopolis, Ala., Jan. 21, 1866. 

Win. Baldridge. Duncombe. 

James Carey, dead. 

Cornelius Claflin transferred for promotion to 50th 
U. S. (Colored) Infantry. Died in Dakota. 

Henry C. Casey, Paoli Kas. 

Charles T. Crosby, transferred to V. R. C. Fort 
Dodge. 

Ira, S. Crosby, 604 E. Division St., Chicago. 

Robert Chandler, deserted. 

Horace D. Conlee, transferred to 8th la. Dead. 

Smith T. Conlee, transferred to 8th la. Walton- 
ville. 111. 

John H. Clarke. 

George H. Crosby, transferred to 8th la. Dead. 

Francis M. De Witt, transferred to V. K. C. Dead. 

Geo. W. De Witt, discharged Jan. 13, '65. Dead. 

Michael Dwyer. discharged May 29. 1863. Dead. 

Simon J. De Witt, died at Memphis', March 14. '64. 

Albert Davie transferred to 8th Iowa. Sioux 
Falls, S. D. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 487 

William Edson, died at Liverraore, Feb. 22, 1895. 
He was a representative citizen and commander of 
Major Hutchinson Post at organization. 

James R. Ewiag, Pawnee Rock, Kas. 

Jeremiah Foster, Cherokee or Sioux Falls, S. D. 

Joachim Frahm, Fort Dodge. 

Clark Fuller, promoted Commissary Sergeant. 
Was president of Regimental Association. Died at 
his home near Kalo, October 27, 1895. [Seepage 4< >'.).] 

Edward Fogarty, wounded at Yellow Bayou. 
Lives at Fort Dodge. 

Michael Fagan, died at Cairo, Feb. 25, 1864. 

Henry H. Franks, discharged Sep. 13, 1864. 

Edward Flagherty, Fort Dodge. 

Wallace P. Gardner, died at Ft. Pillow, June 5, '63. 

Peyton R. Gardner, dead. 

Chas. W. Gardner, transferred to 8th la. Lives 
at Fort Dodge. 

Uriah D. Gatchell, died at Keokuk, Dec. 18, '64. 

Ezekiel L. Goodrich, Sedalia, Mo. 

Francis H. Gilday, transferred to 8th la. Sol- 
diers' Home. 

Benj. Hulsizer, Estherville. 

Daniel T. Howell, dead. 

Morton V. Huxford, Danreath. 

John M. Hefley. transferred to 8th la. Died at 
Emmettsburg. 

Elmore Hurlbut, transferred to 8th la. Schuy- 
ler Neb. 



488 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



Geo. D. Hart, transferred to Veteran Reserve 
Corps. A practicing physician at Otho. 

Alfred T. Haskins, transferred to 8th la. 

^rfjjjjgsfe, Mathias Hutchin- 

son, son of Captain 
Hutchinson, a come- 
ly youth, a mere lad 
of eighteen years, 
who had but recent- 
ly been nominated a 
Cadet at West Point, 
was killed in the bat- 
tle of Pleasant Hill. 

Walt. R. W. Han- 
cock, Riparia Wash. 

John Hightree,. 
died Sep. 10, 1863. 

Sherman Hart, 
-J^xxf&P* died at Island Ten, 

Mathias Hutchinson. Sep. 19,1863. 

John S. Jenkins, is an architect, and his office 
and residence are in Cairo, 111. 

James Scott Jenkins served as Company Clerk 
for Captains Hutchinson and Dowd. He is a Civil 
Engineer and his office is No. 9, Mission Street, San 
Francisco, Cal. 

Andrew R. Jenkins, a meritorious soldier, per- 
ished in a snow-storm in north western Iowa, in 1872 
George W. Jones. 
Phillip Karcher, Port Dodge. 
John Keats, transferred to 8th la. Rigney,. 




IOWA VOLUNTEERS 489 

Pierce Co. Wash. 

Augustus Kramer, Burnside. 

Elias D. Kellogg, wounded. Texas Perry, Whit- 
man county, Wash. 

Henry H. Kinning, died Sept. 13, 1864. 





George D. Hart, M. D. 

Patrick Lyons, dead. 

Robert McCawley, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

David Molloy, Clare. 

Michael Maher, dead. 

John Means, died at Humboldt in 1888. 

Isaac McHonry, Livermore. 



490 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

John N. McHenry, Loup- Pino, Nob. 

Isaac Metcalf. died at Fort Pillow. Mar. 28, '6'". 

John R. Mayborry. wonndpd and enpturod at 
Pleasant Hill; discharged for wounds. 

Henry H. Mnnroo. 

John McKiHricIc, discharged Juno 21. 'fi5. Dead. 

.lohn Marsh, transferred to 8th Iowa. B'irnsidp. 

John C Maupon. transferred to 8th Iowa. En- 
senoda. Cal. 

Alexandor McLain. transferred to 8th Ta. Dead. 

Christian Mullor. transferred to 8th Iowa. 

8. S. Mooro, Wessington Springs. S. D. 

Bartlott M. Morso, discharged at Baton Rouge, 
June 8, 1865. 

Wm. H. Naglo, Licking, Mo. 

Michael O'Neil. transferred to V. R. C. Died 
March 17. 1865. 

Patrick O'Hara, died at Fort Dodge about 1890. 

Wm. T. Prescott, Wilson, Kas. 

Wm. Pollock, wounded at Nashville Ft. Dodge. 

W. D. Powers, West Bend. 

James Rood, killed at Fort de Russy. 

Jonathan D. Roberts, Little Rock, Iowa. 

Wm. Reilley, transferred to 12th U. S. Infantry. 
Bartlett. Neb. 

Francis W. Russell, discharged at Fort Pillow. 
May 29, 18fi:-?. Dead. 

John W. Russell, Soldiers' Home. 



IOWA VOLUNT KICKS 4V*I 

James Russell, transferred to 8th [ovva. 

Matliew Rowley, died at Montgomery, July 19,'65. 

George Roscoe, transferred to 8th la. Pi. Dodge. 

Isaac P. Rood. 

Andrew W. S nod grass, Roife. 

Win. J. Salisburry, captured at Pleasant Hill. 

Peter Scherff, transferred to 8th Ta. Ft. Dod-e. 

James II. Thomas, died at Fort Dodge in 1888. 

J. S. M. Trusty. Fort Dodge. 

Anderson Timmons and Wm. T. Timmons enlist- 
ed in this Company as deserters from the Rebel 
Army, and again deserted near Eastport, Miss. 

John 8. Vancleave. died at Fort Pillow, March 
28, 1803. 

Silas Vancleave, Clarinda. 

John Vandevender, captured at Pleasant Hill. 
Lives at Brushy. 

Beth Vincent, Fort Dodge. 

Jacob Welchle. died at Independence in hospital 
for insane. 

Thomas J. Williams, discharged March 13, 18G4. 
Dead. 

George P. Williams, Lehigh. 

Joel B. Wilson, Dayton, Oregon, 

Lemuel L. Young died al Tekamah, Neb. in 1892. 

Ezra C. Young, transferred to 8th Iowa. Fort 
Dodge. 



492 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



Approximate Roster of Company K. 

Joseph Cad wall ad er, Captain from muster-in to 
Oct. 3, 1863. [See page 409.] 




Capt. Gideon Wheeler. 

Gideon Wheeler, promoted Captain Got. 4, 1863, 
from First Lieutenant. Has been for some years a 
merchant in Pullerton, Neb. 

George Child, promoted First Lieutenant from 
Second Lieutenant, Oct. 4, 1863. Is now deputy 
sheriff and lives in Nevada. Iowa. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 493 

Vincent Tomlinson, promoted Second Lieutenant 
from First Sergeant, Dec. 25, 1803. Resigned Feb. 
1, 1865. Died at Boone. 

Wm. A. Fallas, promoted Second Lieutenant 
from First Sergeant, Feb. 4, 1865. Lives at Stock- 
ton. Kas. 

Thomas J. Spindler, Sergeant, reduced at his 
own request, Jan. 9, 1863: discharged at Columbus 
for disability, July 22. 1863. Lives at Albion. 

Jacob Burger, Sergeant, transferred for promo- 
tion to 63rd U. S. (Colored) Infantry, Dec. 30, 1864. 

Calvin Randolph. Sergeant, discharged for dis- 
ability Oct. 6, 1862. 

Nathaniel A. Mount, promoted Sergeant, died at 
Memphis, July 9, 1864, 

Isaac S. French, promoted Sergeant, detailed as 
Wagon Master. Lives at Colo. 

Lewis F. Brown, promoted Sergeant. Lives at 
Bassett, Neb. 

Jonas Duea, Corporal, promoted First Sergeant, 
Is a retired farmer near Roland. 

Wm. L. Beeman. promoted Corporal, promoted 
Sergeant. Lives at Conrad. 

Jesse Roltson, Corporal, reduced at his request. 

John McCoy, promoted Corporal. 

Francis M. Anderson, Corporal, reduced at his 
request; killed ai Pleasant Hill. 

Elias Modlin, Corporal, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Chilson C. Sanford, promoted Corporal, died at 
Memphis, Sept, 11, 1864. 



494 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Corporal Sanford is said to have graduated from 
the Iowa State University with the highest honors, 
and to have been a model soldier as well as a most 
scholarly man. 

Amos Zabriski, Corporal, reduced at his request. 
A minister and lives at Stanley, Buchanan county. 

Thomas C. Purcell, promoted Gorporal, dis- 
charged at Fort Pillow, May 29, 1863. Lives at 
Springfield, Linn county, Ore. 

Win. M. Edwards, promoted Corporal. 

Clement O. Sefton. Corporal, reduced at his re- 
quest. 

Geo. H. Dunlap, promoted Corporal, died at 
Memphis, May 24. 1864. 

Cyrus Davis, Corporal, reduced at his request; 
discharged at Fort Pillow, March 18, 1863. Died at 
Iowa Center. 

Osmund Egeland, Corporal, died of small-pox at 
Memphis. June 26, 1864. 

Isaac N. Alderman, promoted Corporal, wounded 
at Pleasant Hill; discharged at Davenport June 21, 
1865. Ainsworth, Neb, 

Riley French, promoted Corporal, wounded at 
Columbus June 27, 1863. Farmer's Branch, Texas. 

Wm McCullough. promoted Corporal. 

James S. Stark, promoted Corporal. 

Eric R. Larson, promoted Corporal. Ihlen, 
Pipestone county, Minn. 

John W. Dickerson, promoted Corporal. Ackley. 

Geo. E Keyes, promoted Corporal, mustered out 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



195 



with Regiment. 

Eric L. Sheldall, promoted Corporal. Is a farm- 
er near Roland. 

Henry S. Hallock, promoted Corporal, wounded 
at Lake Chicot, is a carpenter and lumberman; active 
in G. A. R. and church, and lives at Havensville, 
Kas. 




Alba 0. Hall. 

Alba 0. Hall, Musician, promoted Chief Musician 
of Regiment, April 10, 1853. Is a retired farmer and 
lives at Ames. 

Adolphus Prouty, Musician, discharged at Mont- 



496 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

gomery, June 25, 1865. Died near Iowa Center. 

B. H. Cunningham, teamster, died at Albion, 
Sept, 23, 1864. 

Win. Martin, teamster, discharged at Montgom- 
ery, July 7, 1865. Lives at Albion. 

Hezikiah Appellate, discharged Oct. 27, 1862. 
Died near Iowa Center. 

James M. Applegate, died at Mound City. June 
22, 1864. 

Francis Blair, deserted Nov. 21, '62. 

Joseph J. Bryant. 

Daniel J. Bloys, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Wm. C. Ballard, killed at Pleasant, Hill. 

George Boyd, discharged at Montgomery, July 

15, 1865. Died Dec. 30, 1893 at Randall. 

Eli Blickensderfer, transferred to V. R. C, Janv 
10, 1865. Britt, 

Thomas A. Ball, transferred to Sth Towa. 

Chesley W. Baker, transferred to 8th Iowa. 

Joseph Bates, transferred to 8th Iowa. 

Smith M. Childs has been deputy sheriff of Har- 
rison county, Postmaster at Dunlap, dealer in live 
stock; and lives at Dunlap. 

Alexander Church, dischagred at Port Pillow r 
May 29, '63. Lives at Washta. 

Harvey Church, discharged at Fort Pillow, Mar. 
18, '63. Lives at Washta. 

Nathaniel A. Cole, wounded at Nashville, Dec. 

16, '64. Is a farmer near Nevada. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 497 

Lyman Clark, transferred to V. R. C, June 10, 
1865. Was a successful business man at Webster 
City, where he died March 8, 1896. 

Chalres L. Cadwallader, transferred to 8th Iowa. 
Lives at Raymond, Neb. 

Amos Cripps. transferred to 8th Iowa. Albion. 

Samuel B. Dawson, mustered out with Regiment- 
Samuel B. Dinnel, deserted from Fort Pillow. 

John Denbow, mustered out with Regiment. 
Died at Albion prior to 1887. 

Prank L. Daniels, died at Iowa Center, Feb. 5, 
1865, of wounds received at Pleasant Hill. 

Israel M. Dill, transferred to 8th Iowa. 

John W. Dill, transferred to 8th Iowa. 

James N. Deniston, mustered out at Mound 
City. June 16, '65. Collins. 

Peter Egeland, died at Vicksburg, May 31, 1864, 

HenryEliasson, died at Columbus, August 20, '63. 

Geo. L. Everstitie, derserted at Cairo. 

Henry C. French, transferred to 8th Iowa. Lives 
at Cloquet, Polk county, Mo. 

Ira French, mustered out at New Orleans, May 
31, 1865. Lives at Arapahoe. Neb. 

Andrew J. Frakes, wounded and captured at 
Pleasant Hill. 

David Funk, died al White City, Kas, 

Elihu tf. Grubb, lives in Keokuk county. 

Joseph L. Harkness, captured at Pleasant Hill; 

mustered out at Davenport. Lives at Bellville, Kas. 

Henry B. Henryson, killed in battle at Lake 



498 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Chicot, June 6, 1804. 

Edward Hefley, died at Fort Pillow, Jan. 6, 1863. 

Geo. F, Hilton, captured at Pleasant Hill. 

James A. Howard, discharged at Columbus. Aug- 
ust 19, 1863. 

Joel R. Hand, died at Port Pillow, April 18, 63. 

Davis Hall, died at Albion, May 12, 1864. 

John Henderson, died of wounds at Pleasant 
Hill, April 10, 1864. . 

Bayliss Hough, transferred to Company G. 

Wm. L. Hal lock, died at Cairo, March 20, 1864. 

Chas. L. Hurlbert, killed at Pleasant Hill. 

Geo. W. Hackethorn, transferred to 8th Iowa 
Lives at Stuart. 

Robert Hefley, transferred to 8th Iowa. Lives 
at Norton Kas. 

Jacob B. Jacobson, a farmer, near Roland. 

Asa Joysleyn, discharged at Port Pillow, May 
29, 1863. Lives at Hull. 

Oliver Johnson, died July 7. 1864, on the road 
home, on furlough. 

Cornelius Joor, transferred to 8th Iowa. Died 
near Nevada. 

David Jones, transferred to 8th Iowa. 

Henry C. Kelley, transferred to 8th Iowa. Is a 
wagon maker at Nevada. 

Thomas Lein, is a farmer, near Roland. 

Francis Luellen, died of wounds at Pleasant 
Hill. April 22, 1864. 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS ^99 

Benjamin Long-, died at Albion, Dec. 22, 1863. 
Win. S. Lemon, diad of wounds at Nashville, 
Jan. 4, 1865. 

James P. Meccum, mustered out at Davenport, 
May 16. 1865. 

Wm. McGuire. discharged June 25, 1865. Lives 
at Carthage, Mo. 

David A. Moore, discharged Oct. 12, 1863. Died 
in Kansas in 1894. 

Josiah Middleton, mustered out with Regiment. 
Quineams, Mo. 

James M. Melton, deserted at Fort Pillow. 
Noah C. Miner, discharged July 23. 1865. 
Josiah Milbourne, discharged July 15, '65, at 
Montgomery. Santiago, Polk Co. 

Isaac W. Morrow, transferred to 8th Iowa. 
John Nelson, discharged at Island No. Ten. Jan. 
10, '64. Is a farmer, near Roland. 

Nels L. Nelson, mustered out with Regiment. 
Kearby, Minn. 

Oliver Opstweet. transferred to 8th Iowa. 
Nathan H. Pearson, mustered out with Regiment. 
Lives at Maxwell. 

Samuel Pearson, captured at Pleasant Hill. 
Mustered out at Davenport. May 23, '65. 

Henry R. Payne, mustered out with Regiment. 
Geo. Pieison, died at Brownsville, Miss., March 
1, 1864, 

Win. D. Pierce, died at Memphis. March 14, 1864. 



500 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

Wm. S. Ramsey, transferred to Invalid Corps, 
Nov. 20, 1863. 

John Ritland, mustered out with Regiment. A 
farmer near Roland. 

John C. Russell, mustered out with Regiment 
Nurseryman and real estate dealer at McCook, Neb. 

Thomas J. Spillers, mustered out withRogiment. 
Lives at Iowa Center. 

Silas M. See, mustered out with Regiment. Lives 
at Nevada. 

Chas. M. Sellers, died at Ft. Pillow. April 18, '63. 

Louis A. Schamp. wounded at Nashville. Lives 
at Colorado Springs, Col. 

Joseph F. Smith, mustered out with Regiment. 

James Spear, mustered out at Davenport, May 
16 1865. Died at Albion prior to 1887. 

Clark Spindler, died at Fort Pillow, Mar. 16, '63, 
Newcomb S. Smith, promoted Hospital Steward, 
Oct. 6, '62. Reduced to ranks at request of the Sur- 
geon. Discharged at Eastport. Miss. 

Jerome B. Sweet, discharged for disability at 
Montgomery, June 25. '65. Lives at Liscomb. 

James Sortor, died on hospital boat at Cairo, 
June 16, 1864. 

Wm. I. Stevens, mustered out at Louisville, May 
19, '65. Livermore. 

James A. Shaw, transferred to 8th Iowa. Lives 
at Independenc, Oklahoma. 

Wm. L. Smith, transferred to 8th Iowa. 

Wm. M. Sefton, transferred to 8th Iowa. Hub- 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 50J. 

bard. 

Harden L. Tucker, died at Paducah. Jan. 28, '63, 

Wm. Thomas, discharged Oct. 28, '62. 

Nathaniel A. Tichnor, died of wounds at Nash- 
ville, Dec. 18/64. 

Adelbert Terwilla.ger, transferred to 8th Iowa, 

John S. Wood, wounded at Pleasant Hill, died at 
Mansfield, May 1, '64. 

Tryon Wickersham, mustered out with Regiment. 
Lives at Marinetta. 

The Compiler does not deem it necessary to re- 
cord as members of this Company the names of ten 
men who pretended to enlist at Island No. Ten, and 
subsequently deserted. He has had a copy of the 
muster-out Rolls, furnished by Capt. Wheeler, 
which has been useful in identifying names of 
Comrades. Those not otherwise noted were muster- 
ed out with the Regiment, 

In cases where no P. O. address is given, it may 
be assumed that search for same has been fruitless. 



505 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



WPGX. 



One may recollect generally that certain thoughts 
or facts are to be found in a certain book, but with- 
out a good Index such a recollection may hardly be 
made available. 

In truth a very large part of every man's reading 
falls overboard, and unless he has good Indexes he 
will never recover it again. — Horace Binney's Letter, 
Feb. 20, 1866 to Samuel Austin AUibone. 



PAGE 

A Company 17, 20, 40, 41, 51, 59, 71, 133. 141, 149, 150, 
161, 164, 166, 167, 294, 361, 403 

A Company approximate roster .... 411 

Ackerman, Capt. Michael 149, 162, 172, 198, 200, 413 

Albaugh, Sergt, Daniel W 326, 356 

Aldrich, Charles A., Adjutant, 18, 22, 28. 39, 395, 397 
" " " " portrait . . 403 



Alexander, Sergt 



359 



Alexandria 135, 240, 245, 247, 248, 249, 250, 252, 254, 
256, 258, 263, 267, 270, 271, 272, 280, 281 

Allen, Hon. W. V 153, ]56 

" " " portrait 157 

All night in line of battle 271 

An Arkansas doctor 67 

Anderson ......... 307 

Answered at roll call after battle .... 141 

An enemy's view of the situation .... 249 

Appalling scene . 3 73 

Appleton 385, 386 

Arrangement for comfort ..... 71 

Armies in view of each other at Mausnra . . 275 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



506 



Artillery, 2nd Mo. 
2nd Teini. 



PAGE 
. 51 

. 119 
. 245 
100, 109 110 

. 270 
. 04 
. 333 



Artillery and flag signals 

Ashboth, Gen. 

Asleep at their picket post 

Atkinson, Robert 

Austerhaus, Gen. 

B Company 17, 20, 100, 107, 141, 145, 140, 153 154, 150, 
100, 171, 173, 329, 330 

B Company approximate roster 

Bagley .... 

Bailey, Lieut, Col. 

*' " " bridge of transports 

" " " damming Red River 



portrait 



. 422 

183, 190, 191 

. 248, 251 
. 259 
, 273 

. 398, 405 
. 400 

. 400 

. 153 

. 145 



Bailey, Morrison, 

it a 

Bailey, O. J. . 

Baker, Adj. Gen. 

Baldridge, James 

Banks, Gen. 10, 130, 137, 142, 158, 100, 104, 108, 175, 

182, 180, 188, 189, 193, 194. 195, 190, 198, 199, 200, 

202, 203, (note) 210, 211 213, 215, 2L0, 219, 221, 

223, 220, 227, 230. 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 

239, 240, 241, 243, 244. 245. 247, 248. 249, 250, 253, 

254, 255, 250. 257, 258, 259, 266, 279, 281, 301 

Banks, Gen. and Franklin .... 135 

" " and staff .... 130 

" u contemplated abandonment of the fleet 251 

" " extreme left swung round . , 199 

" " ordered cavalry inside the stockake . 244 

" " ordered Smiths command to the front 257 

" report shows total disregard for the 

180 



truth 

Bannon, Lieut. Charles A. . 
Bai-clay, Sergeant C. S. (note) 
Bare, Sergeant 
Barrett, James 



51, 70 
. 200 
. 150 
. 71 



507 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



131, 283, 284, 

283, 

174, 176, 181, 



Bartlett, Surgeon 

Bath interrupted 

Batteries 
3rd Indiana 
9th 

25th New York 
Weflys 

Mack's Black Horse 
Pratts 
Daniels 
Etters 
Valverde 

Battle of Lake Chicot 

" Old Town Creek 

" Pleasant, Hill 
" " Bayou Metaire 

" Tupelo 

" Yellow Bayou 
" in full force in rear 
" of Nashville . 
" " West port . 
Last great battle fought 

Bayou, Cotile . 

" La Moore 

Bee, Gen. 182, 184, ]90, 191, 192, 193, 267, 

Bell, Corporal .... 

Benedict, Col. 160, 182, 202, 203, 

Benson, Capt. R. S. 



portrait 



Benton Barracks 
Benton, Gen. Tom 
Bircbard, Serg. Allen T. 

a u .. ii 

Birge, Gen. 
Black, Col. John C. . 
Blackhavvk Co. 
Blaekman, Anson 



portrait 



22, 396, 



PAGE 

. 80 

. 69 

338, 352 
284, 352 
182, 183 
. 53 
. 338 
. 54 
. 189 
. 189 
, 190 

. 286 
. 293 
. 137 
63, 65 
. 292 
. 276 
. 171 
. 313 
. 303 
. 338 

135, 269 
. 274 

268, 269 
. 356 

204, 209 

. 17 

. 476 

. 36 
. 332 

397, 409 

. 408 

267, 268 

. 56 

20, 22 

. 298 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



508 











PAGE 


Blair .... 




327 


Blanchard, Lieut. Col. 




, 




209 


Blount 




. 




52 


Blucher 








309 


Boarding the fleet 




. 




257 


Bonnon, Lieut. Chas. A. 




, 




51 


Boone county 




. 




20 


Booth, J. Wilkes 








341 


Boyd, Senr. J. M. 14, 40, 41, 


44, 49 


58, 129, 


130, 


143, 


264, 270. 285, 299, 309, 


327, 33 


5, 349 






Boyd, Serg. J. M., portrait , 




. 




58 


Boyd, Wilson 








07 


Braekett, Col. Albert G. 








94 


Bragg .... 




24, 69 


300 


Breckenridge . 




. 




322 


Broadtbeek, Major 








34 


Brockway, Judge 

" " portrait 




153, 156, 


320, 


433a 
155 


Brown, Jacob G., killed 




. 




147 


Brown, John . 


. 




342 


Brutal slave driver nearly hung 


. 




124 


Buckner, Gen. 


, 




344 


Buechel, Col. . 140, 177, 


182, 184, 


190 


191 


Buell, Lieut. . 


177, 


183 


185 


Buell .... 


. 




24 


Burbridge .... 




49, 


286 


Burns, Lieut. 








284 



Burns, Capt, Wm. S. 226, 227, 228, 241, 242, 252, 264, 

283 

Butler county .... 21, 22 

Byam, Maj. Philander . . 66, 397, 401 

" " " portrait . . « 401 

Byers, Capt. S. H. M. .... 222 



509 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

rAOB 

C Company 17, 20, 78, 80, 102, 106, 107, 111, 115, 117 

126, 297, 326, 357, 405 
C Company approximate roster , . . 436 

Cable 302, 304 

Cadwallader, Chaplain or Captain . 18, 21, 399, 408 
" Superintendent of connterbrands . 118 

Cain, John H. ..... 67 

Caldwell, Col. 59 

Camp Benton . . . . .41 

" Franklin . . . 20. 33 

4< Scott 41 

" Salubrity 266 

Campbell, Capt. Wm. J 174 

Lieut, . . . . 41, 44 

Campbell 299, 327 

Canby, Gen. . . 260, 299, 328, 329, 333, 339 

"• " in command .... 258 

" " captured a letter . . . 194 

Cane river crossed ..... 267 

Cape Girardeau -36, 40, 41, 47, 48, 50, 21, 53, 54, 55, 

56, 57, 72, 76, 77, 78, 85, 90 

Capture of an officer . . . . .69 

Cardigan, Lord .... 141, 226 

Carleton 280 

Carpenter, Hon. C. C. . . . . 24 

Carpenter, W. L., Adjutant and Lieutenant 71, 293 r 
326, 345, 397, 404 

Carr, Brig. Gen. E. A. 39, 75, 76, 86, 87, 88, 90, 91, 

92, 93, 95 

Carr, Brig. Gen., letter to Gen. Curtis . . 87 

" " from Thos. A. Davis . 91 

a (( a « it it u « (>.>■ 

Carter . . . . . . 48, 49, 54 

" Corporal Isaiah . . . .69 

Cato Jack, a desperado . . , 45, 46 

Cavalry charge, time of . . 174 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



510 



54, 



PAGE 

. 64 

. 104, 115 

. 110 

. 54 

107, 111, 112, 115 

. 115 

. 117 

53, 54 

. 20 

. 339 

18, 335 

86, 89 

190, 191, 194. 195, 



Cavalry 

]st Iowa 
2nd Illinois 
7th Indiana 
2nd Missouri 
4th 

2nd Mississippi 
19th Pennsylvania 
1st Wisconsin 

Cerro Gordo couuty 
Charge of the colored troops 
Childs, Lieut. Geo. 
Chipman, Col. 

Churchill. Gen. 158, 182, 188, 189 
196, 197, 199, 204, 206, 273 

Church, W. B. 
Clark. Ohas. A. 
Clark Gen. 
Clarkson, R. P. 

" •' " letter to Col. Scott 

Clay, Cassius M. 

Clay, C. Clement 

Cockrell 

Coffin, Chaplain Lorenzo S 

" " " " portrait 

Cole, Mrs. . 

Communication with Hospital never interrupted 

Converse, Lieut. A. . 

Conditions at home . 

Condition of our detachment Aug. 31 to Sept. 5 

Conduct of the 32nd Iowa . 

Cotton bales as breastworks 

" meant gold . • • 

" a success as a speculation 
" shipped under hospital flag . 



. 397 
357, 359 
. 192 
. 220 
. 221 
, 399 
. 345 
. 308 
22, 78, 79, 80, 396, 397 
. 407 
. 152 
. 184 
77, 78 
. 26 
. 65 
. 223 

. 60 

. 129 

. 251 

. 253 



511 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

PAGE 

Cotton ginning establishment covered by our lines 252 
" orders to burn .... 256 



room for, but not troops 
letter from Gen. Gorman on 



. 255 

. 98 

. 284 
193, 196 



Crane, Capt. L. A. . 

Cunningham, Lieut. Edward 

Curtis, Maj. Gen. S. R, 36, 38, 39, 40, 73, 74. 75, 82, 85, 
86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 

Curtis, Maj. H. Z 87 

Cutler, Capt. L. H. . . . 20, 50, 403 

Cutler, Serg. . . . 102, 103, 113 



D Company 17, 20, 39, 40, 50, 51, 59, 61, 64, 141, 
162 164, 165, 166, 167, 278, 326. 356, 361, 410 

D Company approximate roster , . . 445 

Daniels 189 

Darkest period in the civil war . . .24 

Days of sorrow and anger .... 167 

Davidson, Gen. . . 53, 54, 58, 62, 63, 64, 68 

Davies, Bri^. Gen. Thomas A. 38, 39, 40, 81. 82, 83, 

85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 91, 92, 93, 94 

Davies, Brig. Gen. orders handed to Col. Scott . 81 

" letter to Gen. Carr. Jan. 12 . 91 

a a a a a a a a I - ()■> 

Davis, Gen. Jeff . . 299. 342, 345. 347 

Deaue, John ..... 308 

Debray . . 182, 184, 190, 191, 192, 193 

Demoralized condition of the enemy . . 165 

Demand for unconditional surrender . . 49 

Detachment at Little Rock joins the six companies 

at Vicksburg . . . . .72 

Derby, Surgeon N. R. . . . 244, 250 

Defore, Serg. W. L. .... 410 

De Tar, Capt, Theodore . . 20, 59, 326 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



513 



PAGE 

De Russy, Col. 132 

Devine, Lieut. John .... 172 

Died of starvation . . . . . 150 

Discription of prisoners . . . .44 

Disposal of counterbands . . . .83 

Doane, Serg. ..... 162 

Dodge, Gen 309 

Dond, Lieut. Alexander . . . 30, 78, 80 

Don nan, Win. G. . . 342, 353, 354, 356 

Dougherty, Col 89 

Draft from which the map is diawn . . 163 

Drake, Major . . . . .215 

Dudley, Col 246 

Duty to enlist . . . . .28 

Dwight, Gen. 138, 176, 177, 181, 183, 185, 208, 214, 
230 



E Company 17, 21, 107, 141, 145, 148, 298, 36 L, 366, 

392 
E Company approximate roster . . . 453 

Eastman. Gov. ..... 346 

Eberhart. Maj. Gnstavu* 17, 22, 36, 39, 40, 46, 49, 
50, 53, 56, 59, 76, 90, 133, 139, 282, 283, 284. 324, 
326, 349, 395, 397, 400 

Eberhart, Maj., letter of . . .50 

" " received orders . . .59 

Col. G. A., portrait . . .50 

Edgington, Capt. Joseph . . . .12 

Edwards 307 

Effect of cotton speculation . . . .97 

Efforts to bring the Regiment together . . 349 

El let, Admiral 130 

Ellis, Color- Serg. A. J . . . • 326 



514 



THIRTY SECOND RKOJMKNT 



PAGE' 

Emory, Brit?, Gen. 175, 176, 177, 180, 181, 183, 184 
185, 186, 208, 210, 211, 212, 214, 228, 240. 245 (note) 
251, 258, 267 

Emory, Brig. Gen. extract from report of . . 186 

Enemy again in our front .... 275 

" ' charged swiftly .... 209 

" fled ...... 258 

" got our range . - ► .64 

" in our rear ..... 154 

"■ loss at Yellow Bayou . . . 260 

" magnified the aid .... 55- 

" not pursued ..... 193 

" on all sides . . .... 148 

Enrolling officer, how he performed the work . 114 

Entirely surrounded .... 179 

Ethridge, Emerson ..... 311 

Etter . 189 

Ewing, Gen. . 301 

Explanatory note of the "Smiths" . . . 186. 



F Company 17, 21, 40; 50, 51, 59, 67, 71, 278, 282, 340, 
348 



F Company approximate roster 

Fagan, 

Fallas, Lieut. W. A. 

Falls of Alexandria . 

Family of Anthony . 

Faulkner, Col. 

Favorite place for the Johnnies 

Feseenden, Col. . . 181, 



202. 



Gen. 

Field and Staff 

First news from home 

Fisk, Gen. . 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 

" letter to Gen. Curtis 



. 400 

300, 301, 302' 

149, 361, 392 

. 272" 

. 84 

104, 105 

. 116 

203, 208, 211 

. 269 

. 395 

. 143 

, 89, 90, 91 

. 89 



88 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



515 



PAGE 

Flag presentation ..... 34 

Flood, private, killed .... 12(5 

Floyd county . . . . .21 

Ford, John P. (killed) . . . .147 

Forest, Gen. 104, 112, 113, 117. 259, 289, 290, 291, 
292, 293, 294, 290, 297, 310, 319, 340 

Fort De Hussy taken .... 279 

Fox, Geo. H. ..... 61 

Franklin county . . . . .21 

Franklin. Gen. 135, 194, 211, 214, 215, 220, 227. 

230, 23], 232, 233, 234, 235, 230, 237, 245, 247, 2 IS 
310, 314 

Fuller, (Mark . . . . .142 

" portrait .... 409 

Fyan, Maj. .... 180, 284 



G. Company 17, 21, 30,39, 40, 50, 51 

150, 173, 320 
G Company approximate roster 

Gains, Col. .... 

Ganze .... 

Garrard, Gen. Kenner 

Gilbert, Col. James I. 147, 154, 109, 

292 
Gilbert, Gen. James I. 

Gilky, Col. 

Ginn, Lieut. 

Goodell, Sery;. 

Gooding, Col. O. P. 

Gordon, J. C. 

Gorman, Gen. W. A. 

Granger, Capt. 

Grant, Maj. Gen. U. S. 10, 24, 39, 40 
224, 226, 299, 328, 337, 344, 349, 



, 59, 67, 69, 141, 









470 








199 






198, 


199 






314, 


338 


173 


178, 


179, 


284 

334 
61 

284 
156 

158 
71 




. 97, 9£ 


\, 99 








183 


, 73, 


86, 


96, 


220, 


350 









516 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



Grand battle scene without horrors 

Gray, Gen. 

Greason, James A., Assist. Adj. 

Greeley, Horace 

Green, Col. . 

Green, Judge 

Green, Ma j. . 

Green, Gen. Colton 49, 182, 188, 189, 190, 

197, 244, 264, 286 
Grenfelt, Col, G. St. Leger 
Griffin, Lient. 
Griffin, Loyal, portrait 
Griffith, Wm. H., portrait, 
Griffith, Chas. H. 
Grin stead 

Gunboats 

Cricket 

Eastport . 132, 

Neosho 

John Warner 
Gunboats glide over the falls of Alexandria 



Guy, Serg. W. H. 



148, 149, 





PAOE 




258 




192 




39 


65, 


327 


. 


53 


. 


100 




339 


191, 


192, 




300 




159 




464 




418 


. 


119 




199 


59, 61 


248, 


282 


32, 


280 




274 




273 


361. 


392 



H Tompany . 17, 21, ]07 r 141, 325 

H Company approximate roster . . . 476 

Heckart, John C. portrait .... 417 

Hall, (ins 196, 200, 204 

Hal leek, General . 38, 39, 73, 86, 89, 95, 96, 350 

Hansrinu of three negroes , 110 



Hanson, Hnnn 
Hatch. Gen. 
Hazlett, Lieut. 
Hill, Col. 



. 236. 
310, 314 

. 175 
223, 314 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 517 

PAGE 

Hinderman House Hospital . . . . (58 

Hiserodt, Corporal W. P 161 

•• " portrait . . . 102 

History committee appointed . . .14 

Hoffman, Maj. . 226, 232, 233, 236, 239, 245 

Hough, Capt, John . . 234, 236, 256, 257, 352 

Howard, Mrs. Rosa . . . . .424 

Howard, Lieut. Thomas O. . 147, 150,, 152, 156, 172 

" " " •' portrait . . 422 

Hoyt, Wilber . . . . . -147 

Howland, M. W., portrait .... 466 
Hughes, Col. .... 52, 89, 90 

Hull, Lieut 162 

Huntley, Adj. Chas. H. 22, 30, 147, 154, 159, 396, 397, 

404 
Hurlbut, Gen. .... 110, 120 

Houston, Surgeon Wm. L. . . . 397, 406 

Hutchinson, Capt. Jonathan, 21, 29, 78, 79, 80, 145, 

172, 220, 293, 326, 352, 353, 354, 397, 400, 407 

Hutchinson, Mathias .... 144 

portrait . . .488 



I Company 17, 21, 22, 78, 107, 133, 144, 407, 412 

I Company approximate roster • • • 483 

Ingersoll, L. D 222 

Iron Brigade . . . 213, 225, 226, 242 



Jeffries, Col. Bill . . 43, 51, 89, 91, 92, 304 

Jewett, Serg. D, S. . . 14, 165, 166, 361, 366 

Jones, Maj 79, 90 

Jones, Capt. John R. . . 21, 303, 397, 400 

" " " " portrait . . • 453 



518 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

PACK 

Jones, Capt. Warren C. 168, 172 
Jones, Sheriff 303 



K Company 17. 21, 100, 107, 108, 174, 335, 361, 392 

408 
K Company approximate roster . . . 492 

Keerl, Serg. Henry .... 156. 433a 

Kent, James ...... 133 

Kentucky gentlemen in the guard house . . 118 

Kindness of Mrs. Cole . . . .152 

Kirby, John, . . . . .64 

Kirkwood, Gov. Samuel . . 19, 73, 74, 75 

Knapp, Thomas B. . . . . .23 



Ladies of Waterloo . . . . .34 

Lake Chicot, battle of . . . .286 

Le Barre, Corporal John .... 358 
Lee, General Robert E. 205, (note) 299, 307, 337, 340, 

342 
Lincoln, Abraham 111, 305, 308, 328, 335, 342, 343, 

345 
Logan, Lieut. Geo. H. 174, 175 

Loyalty of the negroes to their old masters . 128 

Lucas, Col 232, 246 

Lynch, Col. . . 203, 204, 206, 229, 560, 263 

Lyon, Capt. J. J. . . . . 183 



Mack, George ..... 151 

Mack, Eobt. . . . . . .151 

Macy, George . . . . .67 

Map of the battle of Pleasant Hill . . .240 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



519 



Marmaduke, Gen. 48, 52, 53, 261, 280, 


299, 


PAGE 

300, 301 


May, Wm. .... 




. 325 


Maynard, Horace 




. 311 


Maury, Gen. .... 




. 339 


McCall, Quarter-Master T. C. 22, 142, 

397, 398, 405 


148, 


207, 396, 


McCall, Hon. Thomas C, portrait 


. 


. 404 


McMillan, Gen, . . 175, 


176, 


210, 211 


McMillen, Lieut. 




. 175 


McNeil, Gen. 






48, 53 


McNeil, Col. John. 






52, 53 


McPherson, Geo. - , , 






63, 130 


Mead, Rollin P. 






. 145 


Messmore, Col. 






. 109 


Millard. Serg. Jason K. 






22, 396 


Miller, Capt. Amos B. 17, 20, 30, 31, 
151, 154, 155, 156, 171, 172 


100, 


107, 150 


Miller, Serg. . 


. 


. 167 


Mix, Lieut. Col. Edward H. 17, 22, 90, 107, 
161, 164, 168, 171, 172, 179, 395, 399 


150, 154, 


Mix, Thomas 




. 399 


Mix, Edward 




. 399 


Mix. William 


. 


. 399 


Moore, Gov. 


133, 


248, 271 


Moore, Capt. Frank . 


76. 


104, 115 


Moore, Col. .... 


229. 


287, 314 


Moore, E. V. ... 




. 144 


Moore, Dave, 




. 180 


Mower, Gen. Joseph A. 130, 142, 183, 
259, 279, 282, 295, 323 


203, 


221, 229, 


Myers, John, 


- 




278, 281 



520 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 



PAGK 

Newbold. Col. J. H. . . . 175, 178 

New Madrid . 36, 75, 82, 83, 85, 89, 94, 95 

Nichols, Edwin ..... 145 

" '• portrait . . . .426 

Nowlan, Lieut. Col. . . . .263 



Olney, Dr. Stephen B. 


22, 30, 


396 


401 


Organization of the Regiment 






22 


Orcutt, C E. 


• 




294 


Packard, I. A , an escaped prisoner 






390 


" " " portrait 


. 




365 


Parker, Martin B., portrait . 






433 


Pannes, Lient. Jonn B. 


235, 


252, 


254 


Payne, Tom .... 






47 


Peebles, Capt. Herbert F. 17, 20. 


78, 80, 


107. 


112 y 


115, 126, 150. 152, 172, 198, 200 








Pettibone, Corporal 






166 


Pleasant Hill, battle-plan 






288 


Portrait of 








W, V. Allen 






157 


Adj. Aid rich 






413 


Morrison Bailey . 






406 


Capt. R. S. Benson 






476 


Sergeant Birchard 






408 


Sergeant J. M. Bovd 






58 


Capt, H. N. Brockway 




. 


1 55 


Major Philander Byan 




, 


401 


Chaplain Lorenzo Coffin 




. 


407 


Col. G. A. Eberhart 






50 


Clark Fuller 






409 


Loyal Griffin 






464 


Charts H. Griffith 






419 


Win. H. Griffith 






4 IS 


John C. Heck art 






417 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



521 



Portrait of 
AlbaO. Hall 
George D. Hart, M. D. 
Wm. P. Hiserodt . 
Lieut. Thomas 0. Howard 
Marvin W. How laud 
Mathias Hutchinson 
Capt. John R. Jones 
Hon. Thomas C. McCall 
Edwin Nichols 
1. A. Packard 

k< u CI 

Martin B. Parker . 
Capt. H. C. Raymond 
Wellington Russell 
D. W. Bobbins 
F. M. Rogers 
Col. John Scott 
A. L. Towne 
Wm. T rob ridge 
Jamos Underwood 
Hon. Jesse Wasson 
George H. Welsh 



Helen F. Welsh 
Capt, Gideon Wheeler 
Alanson F. Wood . 
Porter, Admiral David D. 16, 132, 186, 202, 227, 231, 
241, 245, 247, 248, 251, 266, 279, 280 



PAGE 

. 495 

. 4S9 

. 162 

422 

. 466 



453 
. 404 
. 425 

. 365 
. 390 
. 433 
. 437 
. 440 
. 164 
. 427 
. 398 
. 423 
. 444 
. 463 
. 403 

434 a 
436 a 

435 a 
. 492 
. 462 



Ransom, Gen. 


. 136, 137 


Raymond, Lieut. H. C. 

Capt. " " portrait 


78, 80 
. 437 


Reeve, Capt. James B. 


. 21 


Ripley. A. J. 

Robbins, Corporal H. W. . • 
" " " " portrait 


. 71 

. 162, 165 
. 164 


Rogers, F. M., portrait 


. 427 



522 THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 

PAGE 

Root, James ...... 133 

Eoszell, Capt. Chas. A. L. . . . 21, 42 

Russell, Wellington, portrait . . . 440 



Sankey, Maj. . . . . .61 

Sanger. Surgeon . . . 213, 215, 233 

Say re, Calvin M . . . . .67 

Schofield, Maj. Gen. . 190, 309, 310, 312, 314, 328 

Scott, Col. John 17, 22, 28, 36, 38, 39, 73, 78, 81, 82, 
83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90. 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 101, 
107, 109, 110, 111, 131, 132, 137, 139, 140, 141, 142, 
145, 146, 147, 154, 159, 161, 164, 166, 168, 170, 178, 
179, 183, 207, 222, 230, 232, 279, 284, 286, 349, 
395, 399, 423, 425 



Scott, Col. John 


, in advance 


. 166 


U (< (( 


report to Shaw 


. 170 


.; ti (1 


order of 


. 39 


t< 14 U 


official letter to 


Brig. Gen. Carr . 76 


(I (( 11 


letter to Gen. Ci 


irtis . . 85 


I. i. u 


Davies' order to 


. 81 


t. a << 


implored Mowei 


• to advance our 


lines 




. 207 


Scott, Col. John, 


resigned 


. 286 


a ■ < ii 


portrait 


. 398 


(( « (< 


Medallion . 


Frontispiece 


Scott, Benjamin 


G. . 


. 396 


Scott, Mary Avis 




. 223 


Scurry, Brig. Gen. 


131, 192, 194, 275 


Shaffer, Cyrus 




. 359 


Shanklin, Lieut. 




175 


Shanks, Col. 




. 302 


Shannon, Lieut. 




. 135 



Shaw, Col. Win. T. 110, 130, 138, 140, 147, 156, 159, 

169, 3 70, 180, 181, 184, 185, 186 193, 296, 228, 

230, 233, 240, 242, (note) 243, 252, 254, 279, 280, 
285, 359 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 523 

PAGE 

Shaw, v Col. Win. T., asked permission to go . 243 

" " " " orders better rations . . 133 

" " " " report . . . 175 

" " " version of Banks' orders in 

relation to cotton .... 254 

Shaw's Brigade 144, 167, 202, 303, 205, 206, 210, 221, 

277. 303 

Shaw's Brigade answers back . . . 139 

" " saved the day and army . . 156 

" selected for the post of honor . 211 

" " stationed in front . . . 212 

Shaw's Iron Brigade . . . 213, 225 

Shelby, Joseph . 48, 54, 60, 301, 302, 303, 304 

Sheridan, Gen. . . . .299, 337 

Sherman, Gen. Wm. T. 16, 122, 125, 130, 248, 261, 266, 

299, 300, 322, 328, 343, 347, 349, 359, 360 
Sherman, Gen., recalling Smiths command . 266 

S locum, Gen. ..... 261 

Smith, Maj. Gen. A. J. 110, 117, 120, 130, 136, 141, 
142, 144, 148, 149, 156, 160, 175, 176, 178, 182, 
183. 185, 186, 188, 194, 203, 208, 210. 211, 212, 
214, 217, 221, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 
234, 235, 237, 240, 241, 243, 244, 245, 246, 248, 249, 
250, 251, 253, 254, 256, 258, 259, 260, 262, 264, 265, 
266, 267, 268, 275, 279. 283, 289, 290, 292, 297, 299, 

300, 305, 306, 309, 317, 323, 328, 338, 351, 352 
Smith, Gen. A. J., begged Franklin not to retreat . 236 

•' " '' " begged the privilege to bury 

the dead . . . . . .231 

Smith, Gen. A, J., was called upon to furnish a 

brigade and commander . . . 211 

Smith, Gen- A. J., an ovation . . . 247 

" " " " commissioned Major General . 261 

" " '■' " proof of the love his men had 

for him ...... 255 

Smith, Maj. Gen. Kilby 130, 186, 232, 243, 244, 246, 
254, 255, 261, 264, 272. 279 

Smith, Maj. Gen. Kirby 165. 186, 194, 219, 220, 343, 
344 



524 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 





PAGE 


Smith, Neweomb S. ... 


. 396 


Snider ..... 


47. 48 


Spanish fort surrendered 


. 337 


Speers, James .... 


. 108 


Stanley ..... 


. 314 


Staples, Dr. ..... 


233, 250 


Steele, Gen. 65, 69, 186, 214, 219, 273, 


274, 350 


Stockton, Gen. .... 


. 76 


Stoddard, Lucian M. ... 


. 396 


Stone, Gen. Ohas. P. . . 138, 177, 


182, 230 


Stone, Brig. Gen. Win. K. . 


94, 93 


Sturges, Gen. .... 


289, 291 


Suffering from heat and thirst 


. 61 


Swalm, Albert .... 


. 219 


letter to Col. Scott . 


. 220 



Talbot, John 


. 


. 




150 


Tappan, Gen. 


. 


. 192, 197, 198, 


199, 


206 


Taylor, Judge 


. 






45 


Templin, Lieut. 


. 


. 


(50, 


278 


Thomas, Gen. 




309, 311, 312, 317, 


318, 


328 


Thomas, Lieut. 


. 






11(5 


Thomas, Charles 


M. 






359 


Toombs, Bob 




. 




346 


Tod, George A. 


. 


. 




121 


Torpedoes ! where ? 






334 


how 


removed 


. 




335 


Towne, A. L., po 


rtrait 






423 


Trask, Albert 


. 


102, 


107, 


HI 


Trials of War 


, 






27 


Trobridge, Wrn. 




. 




297 


a a 


portrait 






444 



IOWA VOLUNTEERS 



525 



Tupelo campaign 
" battle 

Turner, James 

Tuttle, Gen. . 



, 290 

. 292 

. 147 

81, 82, 89, 91 



Underwood, Dr. 
Underwood, James, portrait 



334 

463 



Vandever, Gen. 

Van Dorn 

Victory complete 

"Victories which are not victories" 



55, 56 

. 89 

217, 230 

. 223 



Wade, Senator Ben . 

Waller, Anthony 

Waller, John L. 

Waring, Col. Geo. E. 

Wasson, Surgeon Jesse 

" " " portrait 

Washburn, Gen. 

Waters, Assist. Surgeon Wm. 13. 

Watts, Gov. . 

Welsh, Geo. H. 

" '' " portraits 

Welsh, Helen F., portrait 
Wickham, W. O. 
Wilson, Gen. 
Williams, S. B. 
Williams, George 
Wittenmyer, Mrs. Annie 
Wolfe, Col. E. H. 



22, 



266, 281 

. *4 

. 84 

107, 109 

Hi, 396, 402 
. 403 

2H5. 296 

22, 396 

. 342 

433 a 
434 a, 43*> a 

435 a 

71 

347 

04 

145 

21"', 

100, 102, 407 



526 



THIRTY SECOND REGIMENT 





TAGE 


Wood, Gen. Thomas J. 


. 314 


Wood, Chaplain 


. 40 


Wood, Alan son F., portrait 


. 462 


AVood, Sergeant 


. 150 


Woodward, Samuel M. 


. 348 


Yellow Bayou 


131, 270 


" Mower's tight 


. 259 


" " fire in the pines 


. 277 



H104 80 



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